Exploring Gender Disparities in Expression of Distress: A Study of Separation Responses using the Strange Situation Procedure

This study explored gender differences in children’s attachment patterns and expression of distress during separations from their caregivers. The sample consisted of 60 Egyptian mother-child dyads. All children were between the age of 12-24 months, with a mean age of 17.18 months (SD = 3.31). 51.7% of the children were females and 48.3% were males. Mary Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Procedure (SSP) was used to identify children’s attachment patterns and their expression of distress during separations from the mother (i.e., frequency of crying). Results indicated that children’s gender did not have a significant impact on their attachment style. However, gender did have a significant impact on children’s attachment subtype as well as their expression of distress upon separation from the mother. Specifically, boys were significantly more likely to cry in all separation episodes; whereas girls were significantly more likely to not cry in all separation episodes. The role of cultural factors in the socialization of gender and expression of distress are discussed.