Leveraging IoT to Address Separation Anxiety in Preschoolers: A Techno-Psychological Approach

Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is a prevalent psychological disorder among preschoolers, characterized by excessive fear or anxiety related to separation from a primary attachment figure. The COVID-19 pandemic likely exacerbated the problem due to the transition to online schooling. While some attention has been given to treating SAD, most current solutions are non-technical and based on behavior analytic research which can be costly and time-consuming. Mediated social touch, which uses technology to simulate physical touch and deliver it remotely, has been extensively studied for its potential to promote wellbeing, enhance social connectedness, and improve affective experiences in various contexts. However, no research has focused on the use of such technology to manage SAD in preschoolers. To address this gap, this work presents the design, development, and evaluation of a novel mediated social touch system aimed at managing separation anxiety in preschoolers. Specifically, the study investigates the effectiveness of using IoT in huggable interfaces and game-based applications in improving children’s emotional state and adaptation to the kindergarten environment. Through experiments conducted on a sample of nearly 30 preschoolers, the results have shown that the system is effective in helping preschoolers adapt to kindergarten, with the best results achieved when using the huggable interface and the developed game together. The implications of this study may be beneficial to parents, educators, and mental health professionals who work with preschoolers who experience SAD.