Secondary school practitioners’ beliefs about risk factors for school attendance problems: a qualitative study

Finning, K., Waite, P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1967-8028, Harvey, K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6819-0934, Moore, D., Davis, B. and Ford, T. (2020) Secondary school practitioners’ beliefs about risk factors for school attendance problems: a qualitative study. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 25 (1). pp. 15-28. ISSN 1363-2752 doi: 10.1080/13632752.2019.1647684

Abstract/Summary

School staff have an important role to play in identifying and assisting pupils who require additional support to regularly attend school, but their beliefs about risk factors might influence their decisions regarding intervention. This qualitative study investigated educational practitioners’ beliefs about risk factors for attendance problems. Sixteen practitioners from three secondary schools were interviewed via focus groups. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Practitioners identified risk factors related to the individual, their family, peers and school. Poor mental health was identified as a risk factor, but practitioners primarily focused on anxiety rather than other mental health problems like depression or behavioural disorders. The overall perception was that school factors were less important than individual, family and peer factors. Implications include a need for increased awareness of the role of school factors in attendance problems, focus on promoting positive peer and pupil-teacher relationships, and collaborative working between young people, families and schools.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/84496
Identification Number/DOI	10.1080/13632752.2019.1647684
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Anxiety and Depression in Young People (AnDY) Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Psychopathology and Affective Neuroscience
Publisher	Taylor & Francis
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