School refusal
Encyclopedia
School refusal is a term originally used in the United Kingdom
to describe refusal to attend school, due to emotional distress
. School refusal differs from truancy
in that children with school refusal feel anxiety
or fear
towards school, whereas truant
children generally have no feelings of fear towards school, often feeling angry or bored with it instead. The term was coined as a more general alternative to school phobia, which can be used to describe school refusal caused by separation anxiety
.
Approximately 1 to 5% of school-aged children have school refusal, though it is most common in children aged five, six, ten and eleven. The rate is similar within both gender
s, and there are no known socioeconomic differences.
Children and adolescents with school refusal sometimes suffer from other problems such as mood disorders, social phobia
or clinical depression
. The longer a child stays out of school the harder it is for them to go back, so some believe it is best to try to get the child back into school as quickly as possible. However, it may be hard to accomplish as when forced they are prone to temper tantrums, crying spells, psychosomatic or panic
symptoms and threats of self-harm. These problems quickly fade if the child is allowed to stay home.
Whereas some cases of school refusal can be resolved by gradual re-introduction to the school environment, some others may need to be treated with some form of psychodynamic or cognitive-behaviour therapy. Some families have sought alternative education
for school refusers which has also proved to be effective. In extreme cases, some form of medication is sometimes prescribed but none of these have stood out prominently as solutions to the problem.
A medical condition often mistaken for school refusal is delayed sleep phase syndrome
(DSPS). DSPS is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder
which causes difficulty falling asleep at night and waking in the morning.
It may be possible that the child wants to avoid school-related issues and situations that cause unpleasant feelings in him, such as anxiety, depression, or psychosomatic symptoms. The reluctance to attend school is one symptom that can indicate the presence of a larger issue, such as anxiety disorder, depression, sleep disorder, separation anxiety or panic disorder.
It may also be that the child wants to avoid tests, presentations, group work, specific lessons, or interaction with other children.
Third, child may want attention from outside the school from significant people, such as parents or older acquaintances.
Finally, it may be that the child wants to do something more enjoyable outside of school, like practice hobbies, play computer games, watch movies, ride with friends, or learn autodidactictly
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to describe refusal to attend school, due to emotional distress
Distress
Distress may refer to:*Distress , occurring when an individual cannot adapt to stress*Suffering*Distress signal, an internationally recognized means for obtaining help...
. School refusal differs from truancy
Truancy
Truancy is any intentional unauthorized absence from compulsory schooling. The term typically describes absences caused by students of their own free will, and usually does not refer to legitimate "excused" absences, such as ones related to medical conditions...
in that children with school refusal feel anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
or fear
Fear
Fear is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger...
towards school, whereas truant
TruANT
Truant is Alien Ant Farm's second album. It was released on August 8, 2003 by DreamWorks Records. The producers of the album were Stone Temple Pilots' guitarist and bassist Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo....
children generally have no feelings of fear towards school, often feeling angry or bored with it instead. The term was coined as a more general alternative to school phobia, which can be used to describe school refusal caused by separation anxiety
Separation anxiety
Separation anxiety may refer to:*Separation anxiety disorder or Separation anxiety test*Spider-Man & Venom: Separation Anxiety, a 1995 SNES video game*Separation Anxieties, a 2000 album by 12 Rods...
.
Approximately 1 to 5% of school-aged children have school refusal, though it is most common in children aged five, six, ten and eleven. The rate is similar within both gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
s, and there are no known socioeconomic differences.
Children and adolescents with school refusal sometimes suffer from other problems such as mood disorders, social phobia
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder , also known as social phobia, is an anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear in social situations causing considerable distress and impaired ability to function in at least some parts of daily life...
or clinical depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
. The longer a child stays out of school the harder it is for them to go back, so some believe it is best to try to get the child back into school as quickly as possible. However, it may be hard to accomplish as when forced they are prone to temper tantrums, crying spells, psychosomatic or panic
Panic
Panic is a sudden sensation of fear which is so strong as to dominate or prevent reason and logical thinking, replacing it with overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frantic agitation consistent with an animalistic fight-or-flight reaction...
symptoms and threats of self-harm. These problems quickly fade if the child is allowed to stay home.
Whereas some cases of school refusal can be resolved by gradual re-introduction to the school environment, some others may need to be treated with some form of psychodynamic or cognitive-behaviour therapy. Some families have sought alternative education
Alternative education
Alternative education, also known as non-traditional education or educational alternative, includes a number of approaches to teaching and learning other than mainstream or traditional education. Educational alternatives are often rooted in various philosophies that are fundamentally different...
for school refusers which has also proved to be effective. In extreme cases, some form of medication is sometimes prescribed but none of these have stood out prominently as solutions to the problem.
A medical condition often mistaken for school refusal is delayed sleep phase syndrome
Delayed sleep phase syndrome
Delayed sleep-phase syndrome , also known as delayed sleep-phase disorder or delayed sleep-phase type , is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder, a chronic disorder of the timing of sleep, peak period of alertness, the core body temperature rhythm, hormonal and other daily rhythms, compared to the...
(DSPS). DSPS is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder
Circadian rhythm sleep disorder
Circadian rhythm sleep disorders are a family of sleep disorders affecting, among other things, the timing of sleep. People with circadian rhythm sleep disorders are unable to sleep and wake at the times required for normal work, school, and social needs. They are generally able to get enough sleep...
which causes difficulty falling asleep at night and waking in the morning.
Factors that cause school refusal behavior
Factors that can cause reluctance to attend school can be divided into four categories. These categories have been developed based on studies in the United States under the leadership of Professor Christopher Kearney. Some people may be affected by several factors at once.It may be possible that the child wants to avoid school-related issues and situations that cause unpleasant feelings in him, such as anxiety, depression, or psychosomatic symptoms. The reluctance to attend school is one symptom that can indicate the presence of a larger issue, such as anxiety disorder, depression, sleep disorder, separation anxiety or panic disorder.
It may also be that the child wants to avoid tests, presentations, group work, specific lessons, or interaction with other children.
Third, child may want attention from outside the school from significant people, such as parents or older acquaintances.
Finally, it may be that the child wants to do something more enjoyable outside of school, like practice hobbies, play computer games, watch movies, ride with friends, or learn autodidactictly
Autodidacticism
Autodidacticism is self-education or self-directed learning. In a sense, autodidacticism is "learning on your own" or "by yourself", and an autodidact is a person who teaches him or herself something. The term has its roots in the Ancient Greek words αὐτός and διδακτικός...
.