A Study of some Factors Associated with the Early Identification of Persistent Absenteeism

ABSTRACT Persistent absence from school is often associated with anxiety and with difficulty in relating to other people. These and other factors were examined to determine their contribution to the identification of persistent absenteeism in the upper junior and lower secondary age groups. Questionnaires were administered to 190 children, including persistent absentees, to measure: (a) their relationship with parents, teachers and peers and (b) their anxiety level. Other information was obtained from teachers and pupil records. A multiple regression analysis was used to determine the predictive efficiency of the variables at both age levels. The strength of peer and teacher relationships, together with ability, suggested that thecauses of persistent absenteeism were likely to be school related. The uncertainty about the causal importance of the home was underlined by the weakness of the home related factors. Anxiety seemed to be of value in differentiating between truants and other persistent absentees.