Abstract
Objective
Chronic school absenteeism is linked to failure to graduate high school and poor health
in adulthood. Contextual factors associated with absenteeism may be under-recognized
in school and clinical settings. We examined the prevalence of self-reported absenteeism
and violence exposure and their association among middle school students with identified
risk of trauma.
Methods
We analyzed baseline data from a dating violence prevention program. Participants
completed surveys identifying lifetime exposure to 10 types of violence and past 30-day
absence. Violence exposure and absenteeism were summarized and compared across demographic
groups. Generalized linear models examined associations between 1) any history of
violence exposure, 2) each type of violence exposure, and 3) summed exposures to different
types of violence, and frequent absenteeism (≥2 absences in past 30 days).
Results
Of all participants (overall n = 499), 45.5% reported frequent absenteeism and 71.5%
reported violence exposure. Any self-reported violence exposure was associated with
absenteeism (aRR = 1.43, 95%CI: 1.06–1.92). However, no specific type of violence
exposure predicted absenteeism. Comparing summed exposures to different types of violence
to no violence exposure, exposure to 1 type of violence was associated with absenteeism
(aRR = 1.59, 95%CI: 1.15–2.20), with no evidence of stronger associations with greater
exposure (2–3 types: aRR = 1.37, 95%CI: 1.00–1.88; ≥4 types: aRR = 1.31, 95%CI: 0.98–1.74).
Conclusions
Youth in this sample reported both high rates of violence exposure and absenteeism.
Prior violence exposure was associated with absenteeism. Resources and contextual
support for youth exposed to family or community violence may play a role in school
attendance, emphasizing need for trauma-sensitive approaches to absenteeism.
Keywords
Abbreviations:
ACE (adverse childhood experience), TDV (teen dating violence), SV (sexual violence), SD (standard deviation), RR (risk ratio), aRR (adjusted risk ratio), CI (confidence interval)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 24, 2022
Accepted:
March 19,
2022
Received:
December 1,
2021
Footnotes
The authors have no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to report.
Identification
Copyright
Copyright © 2022 by Academic Pediatric Association
