Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

School Attendance

  • Chapter
Handbook of Child Behavior Therapy

Part of the book series: Issues in Clinical Child Psychology ((ICCP))

Abstract

School attendance in childhood and adolescence is an aspect of life that many people take for granted, but problems in this area may result in some of the most intransigent difficulties of the developmental period. Although such problems have been referred to in various historical terms, we prefer the term “school refusal behavior” to include any childmotivated refusal to attend school or to remain in class for an entire day. Specifically, school refusal behavior refers to youngsters aged 5 to 17 years who either (1) are completely absent from school, and/or (2) initially attend, then leave school during the course of the day, and/or (3) go to school following behavior problems such as morning temper tantrums, and/or (4) display unusual distress during school days that precipitates pleas for future nonattendance (Kearney & Silverman, 1996). School refusal behavior is differentiated from school withdrawal, referring to parents who deliberately prevent their children from attending school (Kahn & Nursten, 1962).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

References

  • Achenbach, T.M. (1991a). Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist/4–18 and 1991 profile. Burlington: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Achenbach, T.M. (199lb). Manual for the Teacher’s Report Form and 1991 profile. Burlington: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayllon, T., Smith, D., & Rogers, M. (1970). Behavioral management of school phobia. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 1, 125–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barkley, R.A. (1989). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. In E.J. Mash & R.A. Barkley (Eds.), Treatment of childhood disorders, (pp. 39–72). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A.T., & Emery, G. (1985). Anxiety disorders and phobias: A cognitive perspective. New York: Basic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berg, I. (1970). A follow-up study of school phobic adolescents admitted to an inpatient unit. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 11,37–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berg, I., & Jackson, A. (1985). Teenage school refusers grow up: A follow-up study of 168 subjects, ten years on average after inpatient treatment. British Journal of Psychiatry,147, 366–370.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cartledge, G., & Milburn, J.F. (1995). Teaching social skills to children and youth: Innovative approaches (3rd. ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Church, J., & Edwards, B. (1984). Helping pupils who refuse school. Special Education: Forward Trends,11, 28–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conners, C.K. (1990). Conners’ rating scales manual. North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M. (1986). A model of persistent absenteeism. Educational Research,28, 14–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durand, V.M., & Crimmins, D.B. (1988). Identifying the variables maintaining self-injurious behavior. Journal ofAutism and Developmental Disorders,18, 99–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisen, A.R., & Kearney, C.A. (1995). Practitioner’s guide to treating fear and anxiety in children and adolescents: A cognitive-behavioral approach. Northvale, NJ: Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisen, A.R., Spasaro, S.A., Kearney, C.A., Albano, A.M., & Barlow, D.H. (1996). Measuring parental expectancies in a child anxiety disorders sample: The Parental Expectancies Scale. Behavior Therapist, 19,37–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, L. (1958). School phobia: A study in the communication of anxiety. American Journal of Psychiatry,114, 712–718.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flakierska, N., Lindstrom, M., & Gillberg, C. (1988). School refusal: A 15–20-year follow-up study of 35 Swedish urban children. British Journal of Psychiatry 152, 834–837.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gittelman-Klein, R., & Klein, D.F. (1971). Controlled imipramine treatment of school phobia. Archives of General Psychiatry,25, 204–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Granell de Aldaz, E., Vivas, E., Gelfand, D.M., & Feldman, L. (1984). Estimating the prevalence of school refusal and school-related fears: A Venezuelan sample. Journal ofNervous and Mental Disease, 172,722–729.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, S.L., & Ferrari, M. (1983). Developmental factors in child behavior therapy. Behavior Therapy, 14, 54–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hersov, L. (1985). School refusal. In M. Rutter & L. Hersov (Eds.), Child and adolescent psychiatry: Modern approaches (pp. 382–399). Boston: Blackwell Scientific.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hibbett, A., & Fogelman, K. (1990). Future lives of truants: Family formation and health-related behaviour. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 60,171–179.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hibbett, A., Fogelman, K., & Manor, O. (1990). Occupational outcomes of truancy. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 60,23–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kahn, J.H., & Nursten, J.P. (1962). School refusal: A comprehensive view of school phobia and other failures of school attendance. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 32,707–718.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kearney, C.A. (1992, November). Prescriptive treatment for school refusal behavior. Symposium presented at the meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kearney, C.A. (1993). Depression and school refusal behavior: A review with comments on classification and treatment. Journal of School Psychology,31, 267–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kearney, C.A. (1995). School refusal behavior. In A.R. Eisen, C.A. Kearney, & C.E. Schaefer (Eds.), Clinical handbook of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents (pp. 19–52). Northvale, NJ: Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kearney, C.A., & Silverman, W.K. (1990). A preliminary analysis of a functional model of assessment and treatment for school refusal behavior. Behavior Modification, 14,340–366.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kearney, C.A., & Silverman, W.K. (1993). Measuring the function of school refusal behavior: The School Refusal Assessment Scale. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology,22, 85–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kearney, C.A., & Silverman, W.K. (1995). Family environment of youngsters with school refusal behavior: A synopsis with implications for assessment and treatment. American Journal of Family Therapy,23, 59–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kearney, C.A., & Silverman, W.K. (1996). The evolution and reconciliation of taxonomic strategies for school refusal behavior. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice,3, 339–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kearney, C.A., Silverman, W.K., & Eisen, A.R. (1989, October). The function of school refusal behavior: Loathing school or loving home? Paper presented at the meeting of the Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy, Amherst, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kearney, C.A., Drabman, R.S., & Beasley, J.F. (1993). The trials of childhood: The development, reliability, and validity of the Daily Life Stressors Scale. Journal of Child and Family Studies,2, 371–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kearney, C.A., Eisen, A.R., & Silverman, W.K. (1995). The legend and myth of school phobia. School Psychology Quarterly,10, 65–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, W.A. (1965). School phobia: Rapid treatment of 50 cases. Journal of Abnormal Psychology,70, 285–289.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs, M. (1992). Children’s Depression Inventory manual. North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • La Greca, A.M., & Stone, W.L. (1993). Social Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised: Factor structure and concurrent validity. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology 22,17–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Last, C.G. (1991). Somatic complaints in anxiety disordered children. Journal of Anxiety Disorders,5, 125–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Last, C.G., & Strauss, C.C. (1990). School refusal in anxiety-disordered children and adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29,31–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, A.A., Davison, G.G., & Polefka, D.A. (1965). Classical and operant factors in the treatment of school phobia. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 70,225–229.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leal, L.L., Baxter, E.G., Martin, J., & Marx, R.W. (1981). Cognitive modification and systematic desensitization with test anxious high school students. Journal of Counseling Psychology,28, 525–528.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leventhal, T., & Sills, M. (1964). Self-image in school phobia. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry,34, 685–695.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R.H., & Moos, B.S. (1986). Family Environment Scale manual (2nd ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, R.J., & Kratochwill, T.R. (1991). Childhood fears and phobias. In T.R. Kratochwill & R.J. Morris (Eds.), The practice of child therapy (2nd ed., pp. 76–114). New York: Pergamon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ollendick, T.H. (1983). Reliability and validity of the revised Fear Survey Schedule for Children (FSSC-R). Behaviour Research and Therapy, 21,685–692.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ollendick, T.H., & Cerny, J.A. (1981). Clinical behavior therapy with children. New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Reilly, P.P. (1971). Desensitization of fire bell phobia. Journal of School Psychology, 9, 55–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piers, E.V. (1984). Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale: Revised manual 1984. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C.R., & Paget, K.D. (1981). Factor analysis of the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale for blacks, whites, males, and females with a national normative sample. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 49, 352–359.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robins, L.N., & Ratcliffe, K.S. (1980). The long-term outcome of truancy. In L. Hersov & I. Berg (Eds.), Out of school (pp. 65–83). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ronan, K.R., Kendall, P.C., & Rowe, M. (1994). Negative affectivity in children: Development and validation of a self-statement questionnaire. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 18, 509–528.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, W.K., & Albano, A.M. (1996). Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV: Parent and child version (ADISP&C). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, WK., & Eisen, A.R. (1992). Age differences in the reliability of parent and child reports of child anxious symptomatology using a structured interview. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 31, 117–124.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, W.K., & Nelles, W.B. (1988). The Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 27, 772–778.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, W.K., Fleisig, W, Rabian, B., & Peterson, R.A. (1991). The Child Anxiety Sensitivity Index. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 20, 162–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spanier, G.B. (1976). Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 38, 15–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C.D. (1973). Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, C.L., & Rudolph, L.B. (1988). Counseling children (2nd. ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaal, J.J. (1973). Applying contingency contracting to a school phobia: A case study. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 4, 371–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wadiak, D., Kearney, C.A., & Nagel, H.E. (1994, April). The functional profiles of school refusal behavior. Symposium presented at the meeting of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, Las Vegas, NV.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolpe, J. (1990). The practice of behavior therapy (4th. ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zigler, E., Taussig, C., & Black, K. (1992). Early childhood intervention: A promising preventative for juvenile delinquency. American Psychologist, 47, 997–1006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blagg, N.R., & Yule, W. (1984). The behavioural treatment of school refusal: A comparative study. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 22, 119–127.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Bibliography

  • Broadwin, I.T. (1932). A contribution to the study of truancy. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 2, 253–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flakierska, N., Lindstrom, M., & Gillberg, C. (1988). School refusal: A 15–20-year follow-up study of 35 Swedish urban children. British Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 834–837.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gittelman-Klein, R., & Klein, D.F. (1971). Controlled imipramine treatment of school phobia. Archives of General Psychiatry, 25, 204–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Granell de Aldaz, E., Vivas, E., Gelfand, D.M., & Feldman, L. (1984). Estimating the prevalence of school refusal and school-related fears: A Venezuelan sample. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 172, 722–729.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hersov, L. (1985). School refusal. In M. Rutter & R. Hersov (Eds.), Child and adolescent psychiatry: Modern approaches (2nd. ed., pp. 382–399). Oxford, England: Blackwell Scientific.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, A.M., Falstein, E.I., Szurek, S.A., & Svendsen, M. (1941). School phobia. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 11, 702–711.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kearney, C.A., & Silverman, W.K. (1993). Measuring the function of school refusal behavior: The School Refusal Assessment Scale. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 22, 8596.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, W.A. (1965). School phobia: Rapid treatment of 50 cases. Journal of Abnormal Psychology 70, 285–289.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King, N.J., 011endick, T.H., & Tonge, B.J. (1995). School refusal: Assessment and treatment. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Last, C.G., & Strauss, C.C. (1990). School refusal in anxiety-disordered children and adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29, 3135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, A.A., Davison, G.G., & Polefka, D.A. (1965). Classical and operant factors in the treatment of school phobia. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 70, 225–229.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89154-5030, USA

    Christopher A. Kearney & Cheryl A. Tillotson

Authors
  1. Christopher A. Kearney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cheryl A. Tillotson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, USA

    T. Steuart Watson

  2. University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA

    Frank M. Gresham

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kearney, C.A., Tillotson, C.A. (1998). School Attendance. In: Watson, T.S., Gresham, F.M. (eds) Handbook of Child Behavior Therapy. Issues in Clinical Child Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5323-6_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5323-6_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7429-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-5323-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation