Abstract
This study is concerned with the separation anxiety among kindergarten learners in Pangasinan Schools Division II for school year 2023 – 2024. Specifically, this study determined the level of separation anxiety among kindergarten learners along inferiority complex, self-esteem needs, safety needs, socialization needs and love and feeling of belonging needs. (1) It looked into the profile of the respondents in terms of age, sex, civil status, highest educational attainment, length of service as a Kindergarten teacher, and number of relevant trainings and seminars attended, (2) the teachers level of perceived separation anxiety among kindergarten learners, (3) the significant difference in the level of perceived separation anxiety among kindergarten learners across the profile variable. (4) the problems encountered by the kindergarten learners. To address the foregoing problems raised in this study, statistical measures were used for data analysis and interpretations. These are the frequency counts (f) and percentage (%), the average weighted means (AWM), and the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used. The study reveals that kindergarten learners often come from lower-income families, with farming and housewives as their parents. Factors like inferiority complex, self-esteem, safety, socialization, love, and belonging contribute to separation anxiety. The study suggests that separation anxiety may be a common issue due to emotional and developmental challenges faced during their first school experiences. The study suggests several strategies to enhance the well-being and educational outcomes of lower-income children, including tailored support programs, parental engagement initiatives, community partnerships, financial literacy programs, and scholarship opportunities. It also recommends the use of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs in kindergarten classrooms to develop skills like self-awareness and empathy. Teachers should have access to resources and training to address separation anxiety effectively, and further research is recommended to understand the relationship between factors and separation anxiety.
