School non-attendance: definitions, meanings, responses, interventions
Abstract
This article reflects on the behaviour commonly known as ‘school refusal’. After reviewing its established descriptions, the article argues for a different definition, namely ‘extended school non‐attendance’, which describes the visible behaviour neutrally, aims to direct one’s attention to the school environment, and stresses its persistent nature. The article scrutinises dominant and alternative discourses on school non‐attendance in Western and Japanese societies. Finally, it reviews some of the assessment tools and intervention strategies used to support school non‐attenders, their families and their schools, to redress this behaviour.
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An acute-chronic distinction has been linked to more immediate onset involving emotional distress (akin to school refusal) and more insidious onset involving conduct problems (akin to truancy).
“An acute-chronic distinction has been linked as well to more immediate onset involving emotional distress, akin to school refusal, and more insidious onset involving conduct problems, akin to truancy (Pellegrini, 2007).”
From Reconciling Contemporary Approaches to School Attendance and School Absenteeism: Toward Promotion and Nimble Response, Global Policy Review and Implementation, and Future Adaptability (Part 1) (2019) · cites this paper as Pellegrini, 2007
A shared understanding of SAPs is needed because inconsistencies and ambiguity are obstacles to the advancement of assessment, intervention, and scientific knowledge surrounding SAPs.
“A shared understanding of SAPs is needed (Pellegrini, 2007) because inconsistencies and ambiguity are obstacles to the advancement of assessment, intervention, and scientific knowledge surrounding SAPs (Kearney, 2003).”
From Differentiation between school attendance problems: why and how? (2019) · cites this paper as Pellegrini, 2007
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- Authors
- Pellegrini, D. W.
- Corresponding author
- Pellegrini, Dario W.
- Venue
- Educational Psychology in Practice
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2007-03
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 63-77
- ISSN
- 0266-7363 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-5839
- OpenAlex
- W1972785977
- Cited by
- 103
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 16.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Educational Psychology in Practice (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Youth Substance Use and School Attendance
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › School Health and Nursing Education
- Social Sciences › Education › Parental Involvement in Education
- Keywords
- school non-attendance, school refusal, assessment instruments, intervention strategies, family support, school support
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