Prolonged school non-attendance in adolescence: a practical approach

Abstract

Prolonged school non-attendance in adolescence poses a significant public health concern. Adverse outcomes for adolescents who have missed out on the social and academic benefits of high school include mental health disorders and economic, social and relationship difficulties that may persist into adulthood. Healthcare professionals are often consulted in cases of prolonged school non-attendance. Diagnosis and management of specific physical and mental health problems must be the health professional's initial priority, with the subsequent development of a management plan to assist with school reintegration. Using a specific framework, an understanding of the factors contributing to a young person's school non-attendance can be developed. Intervention leading to a successful return to school has the potential to lower the risk of associated long-term adverse health outcomes.

Extensive Medical Absenteeism among Secondary School Students: An Observational Study on Their Health Condition from a Biopsychosocial Perspective

“…The first group (13.4%) consisted of students who had a diagnosed disease without problems. In cases of chronic diseases, school absenteeism may indicate that the disease is not being managed appropriately [4] [18]. More proper treatment and care can contribute to reducing medical absenteeism [4].…”

“…Health outcomes, therefore, can be improved by optimizing educational opportunities [17]. Recently, Hawkrigg and Payne [18] proposed an approach to tackle prolonged school absenteeism. As they pointed out, the risk of associated long-term adverse health outcomes can be lowered by diagnosis and management of specific physical and mental health problems and facilitation of school attendance.…”

Chronic school absenteeism as a diagnostic clue for paediatricians

“…During adolescence, school attendance protects from dangerous behaviours, such as substance or alcohol abuse, smoking, suicidality, violence, high‐risk sexual behaviour and teenage pregnancy . On the other hand, school absenteeism correlates with adverse health outcomes in adolescence and adulthood, such as lower academic attainment, unemployment, poverty, suicide, substance abuse and an increased risk of mental illness . Therefore, paediatricians should learn how to manage patients with school absenteeism and actively promote school attendance in order to help children and adolescents to reach their full potential and to prevent dangerous behaviours.…”

Associations between mothers' active engagement with infants at 6 months and children's adjustment to school life at ages 5.5 and 11 years

“…Children's maladaptation to school environment, manifested as behaviors including school refusals and disruption of class activities, could negatively impact their developmental trajectory and potentially lead to larger issues such as school dropouts and mental problems in adolescence and adulthood (Kearney ; Cleverley et al . ; Hawkrigg & Payne ). However, to our knowledge, effective population‐based strategies to prevent children's poor adjustment to school life have not yet been identified because the underlying mechanisms remain unknown.…”