Environment and Psychological Status in School Refusing Adolescents

Lee, So Hee; Noh, Kyung Sun; Kim, Chang Ki; Ko, Bok Cha

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
School refusal can result from various causes; temperament, familial influences, and school experiences have been identified. This study was to compare family, school and psychological functioning in school-refusing adolescents and non-refusing ones.
METHODS
Twenty-four school refusing outpatients aged 13-17 years were evaluated from May, 1998 to January, 1999. They completed self-report questionnaires, including Parent Bonding Instrument, Family Environment Scale, Index of Marital Satisfaction, Scales for School-related Distress, Center-for Epidemiological Studies-Depression, The Failure and Criticism Factor of Fear Survey Schedule from Children-revised. Their scores were compared with nonrefusers.
RESULTS
The results were as follows: 1) School refusers perceived their family as more independence and achievement-oriented than nonrefusers. 2) School refusers did not differ significantly from nonrefusers in school-related distress. 3) School refusers had more depression than nonrefusers. 4) School refusers claimed more fear of having to go to school, and having to stay after school than nonrefusers. On the other hand, nonrefusers expressed greater apprehension about situations such as Being called on by the teacher, Getting poor grades, Failing a test, and Taking a test.
CONCLUSION
The results suggested two postulated mechanisms of school refusals (overprotection and demanding of independence of parents) and possible causes of each result were discussed.