What are the three types of school refusal?

The terms fear‐based school phobia, anxiety‐based school refusal, and delinquent‐based truancy were commonly described as school refusal behavior.

What are the four functions of school refusal?

A seminal paper by Kearney and Silverman (1993) divided SRB into four different behavioral functions: (1) avoidance of emotionally aversive (i.e., anxiety-provoking) situations, (2) escape from socially evaluative situations, (3) pursuit of attention from parents and significant others, and (4) pursuit of reinforcement ...

What is the best treatment for school refusal?

A range of empirically supported exposure-based treatment options is available in the management of school refusal. Treatments include cognitive behavior therapy, educational-support therapy, pharmacotherapy, and sometimes parent-teacher interventions.

How bad can school refusal get?

School refusal behavior is seen equally in boys and girls and among families of various income levels. The short-term consequences of school refusal behavior include declining academic status, social alienation, increased risk of legal trouble, family conflict, and severe disruption in a family's daily routine.

What are the theories for school refusal?

The triggering factors of the school refusal i.e.: a) the child has anxiety, such as (separation anxiety), b) the fear experienced by children related to academic activities, c) a parent is sick or conflict in the family, d) the intensity of stress while at school in caused because teachers or a friends at school.

School avoidance and refusal: Webinar May 2023

How is school refusal diagnosed?

School refusal is often diagnosed with a team approach. The team is made up of your child's healthcare provider, you, your child, and teachers and counselors. Your child's healthcare provider will rule out any real health problems that may be happening. A complete health history and physical exam will be done.

Is school avoidance a diagnosis?

School Avoidance is Not a Diagnosis

Therefore, there is no diagnostic code for school avoidance in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: DSM-5, which is the definitive authority that defines and classifies mental health disorders.

Should I punish my child for school refusal?

This phenomenon, known as school refusal, isn't a behavior problem. You can't punish your child out of school refusal. Instead, it's a form of anxiety that demands treatment.

What can parents do about school refusal?

Safe to feel: Talk to your child, validate their concerns, avoid lecturing. ​Talk about what's bothering them, while at the same time making it clear that a plan will be made to return to school. Keep in mind, though, that some children can't describe what is bothering them.

What is school refusal because of anxiety?

When children aren't able to attend school, it's often due to extreme anxiety or phobia. This is sometimes known as 'school refusal'. The term 'school refusal' makes it seem like the child has a choice, however the anxiety is usually so severe it's impossible for them to face it.

What medication is used for school avoidance?

Medication: Particularly if a child has another mental health condition, medication may be helpful. For example, children may take antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs like sertraline (Zoloft®) or fluoxetine (Prozac®) may treat an underlying anxiety disorder.

What to do if a student refuses to go to school?

Reach out to your school counselor, social worker, and school psychologist for strategies and support along the way. So often, these specialists are a wealth of information. Even just talking through the challenges may help you see the situation in a new way. Have the Student Meet with School Specialists.

What are the criteria for school avoidance?

The operational criteria present in Berg's [2] definition are: (1) school attendance is less than 80% in the classroom during the 2 weeks prior; (2) the presence of an anxiety disorder; (3) parents are aware of their child's whereabouts during absences; (4) the absence of conduct disorder problems; and (5) parental ...

Can ADHD cause school refusal?

Their study showed that children with ADHD, who also had anxiety, depression, or phobias, were more prone to skip school for over 14 days compared to the children with ADHD only (Classi et al., 2012). This means that having ADHD and internalized problems can increase the risk of being absent from school.

Is school refusal emotional disturbance?

School refusal is often described as a disorder of a child who refuses to go to school on a regular basis or has problems staying in school. Some of the criteria commonly found in school refusal matters involves a student with severe emotional distresses about attending school.

What is the assessment tool for school refusal?

The School Refusal Assessment Scale-Revised (SRAS-R), developed by Christopher Kearney and Wendy Silverman, is a psychological assessment tool designed to evaluate school refusal disorder symptoms in children and identify their reasons for avoiding school.

How can I treat my child's anxiety naturally?

How do you get a child to read when they refuse?

Try to make it relaxing and low-key for a short part of the day. Share something of your own. Read aloud some funny or interesting parts of a book that you're reading. Draw your child in with a riddle book for kids, a passage from Sports Illustrated, or a newspaper story.

What is school anxiety called?

Author: Dr Lucy Russell, Clinical Psychologist. School anxiety is also known as school refusal, school-related anxiety, school phobia or emotionally-based school avoidance (EBSA).

How do you help a child who hates school?

Can I call the police if my child refuses to go to school UK?

You should speak to the school who will be able to offer support and assistance. The police do have powers to remove a child of compulsory school age from a public place and take them back to a school or to another place designated by the local authority (unless that child is home educated).

What is school refusal in autism?

School refusal can occur when children become distressed thinking about going to school. Although allistic (non-autistic) children may also struggle with this problem, it may be more pronounced in autistic children.

What is school avoidant behavior?

School avoidance is a disorder affecting school-aged children who, because of anxiety, depression, or social factors, avoid attending school because attendance causes stress. Some psychologic and social factors may cause school avoidance. Children may fake illnesses and make up excuses to avoid going to school.

Why does my child suddenly not want to go to school?

School refusal usually goes along with disorders like separation anxiety, depression or panic disorder. An evaluation from a professional can tell you if your child needs treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy are used to treat school refusal.

What is emotionally based school refusal?

Emotionally Based School Avoidance is a broad umbrella term used to describe a group of children and young people who have severe difficulty in attending school due to emotional factors, often resulting in prolonged absences from school.