Abstract
Previous research has consistently found an association between elevated anxiety and school refusal behaviour (SRB) in children and young people. Kearney (J Child Psychol Psychiatry 48:53–61, 2007) suggested that this relationship is best understood by exploring motivations underlying SRB. The present study aimed to establish whether motivating factors associated with non-attendance could explain the relationship between trait anxiety and school attendance in a community sample of 162 12–13-year-old young people. We measured motivating factors using the School Refusal Assessment Scale-Revised (SRAS-R; Kearney in J Psychopathol Behav Assess 24:235–245, 2002). In addition, we assessed the factor structure of the SRAS-R using confirmatory factor analysis. Goodness-of-fit indices supported a three-factor model highlighting motivational factors related to negative affect, social avoidance and attention-seeking. The results showed a negative relationship between trait anxiety and school attendance that was mediated by social avoidance and attention-seeking. We suggested that a consideration of motivating factors is important to understand and address anxiety-related non-attendance in young people.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by funding from the Economic and Social Research Council, UK (award number PTA-031-2006-00179). We would like to thank Matthew Owens, Jim Stevenson, Rebecca Newman and the members of the Developmental Brain-Behaviour Laboratory at the University of Southampton for valuable comments and advice on this research.
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Appendix A
Appendix A
Items removed in the current factor analysis of the School Refusal Assessment Scale-Revised (Kearney, 2002)
Negative affect | |
Item 17 | If you had less bad feelings (for example, scared, nervous, sad) about school, would it be easier for you to go to school? |
Social avoidance | |
Item 18 | If it were easier for you to make new friends, would it be easier for you to go to school? |
Item 22 | How often do you stay away from people at school compared to other kids your age? |
Attention seeking | |
Item 7 | How often do you think about your parents or family when in school? |
Item 19 | Would it be easier for you to go to school if your parents went with you? |
Item 23 | Would you like to be home with your parents more than other kids your age would? |
Tangible reinforcement | |
Item 4 | When you are not in school during the week (Monday to Friday), how often do you leave the house and do something fun? |
Item 8 | When you are not in school during the week (Monday to Friday), how often do you talk to or see other people (other than your family)? |
Item 12 | When you are not in school during the week (Monday to Friday), how much do you enjoy doing different things (for example, being with friends, going places)? |
Item 16 | How often do you refuse to go to school because you want to have fun outside of school? |
Item 20 | Would it be easier for you to go to school if you could do more things you like to do after school hours (for example, being with friends)? |
Item 24 | Would you rather be doing fun things outside of school more than most kids your age? |
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Richards, H.J., Hadwin, J.A. An Exploration of the Relationship Between Trait Anxiety and School Attendance in Young People. School Mental Health 3, 236–244 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-011-9054-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-011-9054-9