Externalizing and internalizing syndromes in relation to school truancy among adolescents in high‐risk urban schools

Abstract

Introduction: To examine the relationship between externalizing/ internalizing syndromes and school truancy among Form Four (10th grade) students attending "high-risk" schools in Kuala Lumpur. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted upon 16-year-old adolescents attending three high-risk schools in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 373 students completed self-administered questionnaires on the sociodemographic variables and externalizing/internalizing syndromes. The number of truant-days per student during the study period was obtained from the school records. Results: The mean internalizing score, externalizing score and total problem score of those who were truant were found to be significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those who were non-truant. Multiple logistic regressions showed externalizing syndrome (odds ratio [OR] = 1.044; confidence interval [CI] = 1.012-1.078, P = 0.018) significantly predicts truancy but not the internalizing syndrome. Two other psychosocial factors, namely, having divorced parents (OR = 2.495, CI = 1.058-5.886, P = 0.037) and did not understand or were uncertain of the purpose of schooling (OR = 2.621, CI = 1.265-5.433, P = 0.010) were also showed to be stronger predictors of truancy compared to externalizing/internalizing syndromes. Discussion: Truancy has significant association to externalizing syndrome, in addition to other significant psychosocial variables like parental and schooling factors. This finding indicated the need for comprehensive assessment of students presenting with truant behavior, including the identification of associated psychological and behavioral problems which highlights the roles of mental health professionals in tackling truancy.

Emotional disorder and absence from school: findings from the 2004 British Child and Adolescent Mental Health Survey

“…We undertook a secondary analysis of the 2004 British Child and Adolescent Mental Health Survey (BCAMHS) [21], which is a large, nationally-representative dataset that spans from 5 to 16 years. Although previous research has suggested that behavioural disorders are also related to school absence, particularly unauthorised absence or truancy [28,29], the present study focuses on anxiety and depression because these disorders are so frequently unrecognised by adults around the child, particularly in education settings [30]. The BCAMHS benefits from having diagnostic measures of emotional disorder in addition to measures of emotional symptoms and school absence.…”

Association of Truancy and Health Risk Behaviours among School-Going Adolescents in Malaysia

“…Another study, [24] reported that there is significant difference of perception on causes of truancy among male and female adolescent. However, we also found few studies stated that gender difference did not influence truant behaviour and the prevalence of truancy among the gender show no significant different [18] [25] and [26].…”

Survey datasets on the externalizing behaviors of primary school pupils and secondary school students in some selected schools in Ogun State, Nigeria

“…Details on other research aimed at studying the nature, causes, distribution and management of externalizing behavior in children and adolescents can be found in [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30]. Sample (field) survey was used to obtain the data, similar researches that used field survey to obtain their data can also be found in [31], [32], [33], [34], [35], [36], [37], [38], [39], [40], [41], [42], [43], [44], [45].…”