School avoidance
Staying away from lessons, linked to emotional distress when attending school, in English “school refusal”. According to a British parent survey, this was the most common reason for days of absence in children with autism, not “truancy”.
- Also called
- school refusal, school absenteeism
School avoidance (also called school refusal) means staying away from lessons, linked to emotional distress when attending school. In a British online parent survey (486 children with autism; parents registered themselves, so selection bias is possible), this was the most common reason for days of absence, not “truancy”. [1] 43 percent of the children missed at least 10 percent of school days in one month. [1]
In a small Australian study, higher anxiety in the child was linked to more half-days of absence due to school refusal; the association was small. [2] It helps to understand the reasons precisely and to bring school, family and professionals together early instead of increasing pressure (editorial assessment). In detail: School avoidance and school absenteeism in autism.
Sources and literature
- Totsika V, Hastings RP, Dutton Y, Worsley A, Melvin G, Gray K, Tonge B, Heyne D: Types and correlates of school non-attendance in students with autism spectrum disorders. Autism 2020;24(7):1639–1649. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320916967
- Adams D: Child and parental mental health as correlates of school non-attendance and school refusal in children on the autism spectrum. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 2022;52(8):3353–3365. Online 30.07.2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05211-5 (PMID 34331173, PMC8323746)
In detail: School avoidance and school absenteeism in autism
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School avoidance and school absenteeism in autism
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