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Published on: July 10, 2017
Chronic Absenteeism: Risks and Protective Factors Among Low-Income, Minority Children and Adolescents
Nipher Malika1, Cristie Granillo2, Crissy Irani3
1MPH, (nmalika@rand.org), The RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401.
Background:
Low-income and racial/ethnic minority students often face distinct challenges in attending school eading to lower academic performance, low graduation rates, and overall, an indicator of diminished long-term social and financial stability. Chronic absenteeism is a national problem and to address this, a better understanding of risks and points of intervention for the students most at risk is needed. This cross-sectional study sought to assess risks and protective factors associated with chronic absenteeism in a predominantly low-income minority school district in Southern.
Methods:
Conducted in southern California, students (N = 24,439) ages 9 to 21 years were recruited. A logistic regression was used to assess the role poor physical and mental health, safety, bullying, and family risk factors attributed to chronic absenteeism.
Results:
Results revealed that asthma (odds ratio [OR] = 1.35, p < .001), being overweight/obese (OR = 1.38, p < .01), presence of family risk factors (OR = 1.49, p < .001), bullying (OR = 0.84, p < .05) and perceptions of safety at school (OR = 1.24, p < .05) increased the odds of chronic absenteeism, while protective factors such as support (OR = 1.30, p < .001), increased sleep (OR = 0.96, p < .001) and positive growth mindset (OR = 0.96, p < .001), mitigated it.
Conclusion:
This study not only identifies risk but protective factors worth adhering to, to promote school attendance. Future research should further examine the role of mental health in chronic absenteeism.
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