Are girls more likely to have Separation Anxiety Disorder?

Many parents notice their daughter clings harder at drop-off than her brother ever did — and wonder if girls are simply more prone to separation anxiety.

In short

The honest answer is: only slightly, and the gap is smaller than most people expect. Across community studies, Separation Anxiety Disorder (ICD-11 6B05) is reported a little more often in girls than boys, but it is genuinely common in both — and in young children the difference can be hard to even detect. Far more important than your child's sex is whether the anxiety is intense, persistent, and getting in the way of everyday life — sleep, school, play and friendships.

What the pattern really tells us

Some separation worry is completely normal and healthy in early childhood — it peaks in toddlers and usually softens as a child grows. A modest female predominance shows up in the research, but it is one small thread in a much bigger picture. What actually matters for your child is the shape of the anxiety, not the statistic:

• Distress at separation that is out of proportion to their age
• Refusing school, sleepovers or being in another room — for weeks, not days
• Repeated worry that something terrible will happen to a parent
• Tummy aches, headaches or nightmares tied to separation
• The worry shrinking their world rather than easing with time

A boy with these signs needs support just as much as a girl — so please don't let "it's more common in girls" reassure you away from a concern about a son, or alarm you about a daughter who is simply finding a new nursery hard.

When to seek a check

If separation distress is lasting beyond a few weeks, intensifying, or stopping your child from doing the everyday things other children their age manage, a gentle developmental check is the right next step — regardless of whether your child is a girl or a boy.

The Pinnacle way

AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an online list or a single trait. Our clinicians look at the whole child, not a single statistic. Start with a developmental check , understand how the AbilityScore is established, and explore gentle, evidence-based behavioural and emotional support.

Trusted sources

WHO ICD-11 classification of Separation Anxiety Disorder (6B05); American Academy of Pediatrics guidance on childhood anxiety and emotional development (healthychildren.org).

Next step — If your child's separation worry is lingering or growing, book a developmental check with a Pinnacle clinician for clear, reassuring guidance.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.