During the first 4 days of hospitalization, Eric, age 18 months, cried inconsolably when his parents left him, and he refused the staff's attention. Now the nurse observes that Eric appears to "settle in" and be unconcerned about seeing his parents. The nurse should interpret this as which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eric's behavior is indicative of detachment, the third stage of separation anxiety, where a child may appear to have adjusted to the separation by showing interest in surroundings and interacting with strangers or caregivers, but this is often a coping mechanism rather than genuine adjustment.

During the First 4 Days of Hospitalization, Eric, Age 18