Parental separation is a significant developmental stressor, yet its multidimensional clinical impact on children remains insufficiently characterized at the interface of psychology and psychiatry. This study examines emotional, behavioral, and adaptive functioning in children aged 3–12 exposed to parental separation or divorce, emphasizing early indicators of psychiatric vulnerability. The current dataset includes 108 clinically evaluated children, assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System–II (ABAS-II) for adaptive functioning. Parental emotional symptoms were measured using standardized clinical instruments aligned with psychiatric screening (Hamilton-type scales). Preliminary findings indentify distinct vulnerability profiles, particularly combinations of elevated internalizing symptoms and reduced adaptive functioning. A subset of children presents behavioral patterns consistent with early psychiatric risk markers. Higher parental anxiety and depressive symptoms correlate with more severe child profiles. These findings highlight the need for integrated psychological and psychiatric approaches supporting early detection, emotional resilience, and functional adaptation in children navigating parental separation.

Ana Tatu is a Clinical Psychologist Specialist and Psychotherapist with a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. Active in the field since 2007, she runs an Individual Psychology Practice in Bucharest, Romania, and is affiliated with the College of Psychologists of Romania. She has international experience in psychological support, including collaborations during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on child and family emotional adaptation.