What is the prevalence of school refusal?

School refusal (SR) is a school attendance problem (SAP) generally driven by emotional distress [1–3]. SR affects between 1 and 15% of youth¹ according to available North American and European prevalence data [4–6].

How common is school refusal?

The most widely accepted prevalence rate is 1–2% of school-aged children. In clinic-referred youth samples the prevalence rate is 5–15%. There are no known relationships between school refusal behavior and gender, income level, or race.

How common is school refusal UK?

“The latest stats will tell you that in November 2022 there were two million children in England missing from school and not in school. There are lots of different reasons for that, but government figures suggest that between one and two per cent of those are because of EBSA.”

What is the prevalence of emotionally based school avoidance?

Rather than the term 'school refusal', the term EBSA recognises that this avoidance has its root in emotional, mental health or wellbeing issues. The 2022 Attendance Audit from the Children's Commissioner found that in Autumn 2021, 1 in 4 children were persistently absent.

What is school refusal associated with?

School refusal is considered a symptom and may be associated with diagnoses such as social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, major depression, oppositional defiant disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and adjustment disorder, among others.

Beyond First Day Jitters | Coping With School Refusal and Anxiety

What is the most common age for school refusal?

Approximately 1 to 5 percent of all school-aged children have school refusal. The rate is similar between boys and girls. Although school refusal occurs at all ages, it is more common in children five, six, 10, and 11 years of age.

What is the best treatment for school refusal?

Cognitive behavioral treatment is the most effective approach. This involves teaching a child and parent specific skills that can help the child learn to cope with the thoughts, emotions and behaviors associated with their school refusal.

Is school avoidance a disorder?

School avoidance is a disorder affecting school-aged children who, because of anxiety, depression, or social factors, avoid attending school because attendance causes stress.

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.

What are the consequences of school avoidance?

School refusal behavior is marked by considerable symptom heterogeneity. Common internalizing problems include general and social anxiety/shyness, depression and social withdrawal, fear, fatigue, and somatic complaints such as stomachaches, headaches, nausea, and tremors.

Why are Britain's kids refusing to go to school?

In just five years membership for Not Fine in School has grown to 43,000 people, whose children have found mainstream school attendance a struggle whether it's down to unmet special education needs and disabilities, physical or mental illness, bullying and assault, or trauma.

How do you break a school refusal?

Can anxiety cause school refusal?

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 is the difference between school refusal and school avoidance?

School refusal is a term used to describe the signs of anxiety a school-aged child has and his or her refusal to go to school. It is also called school avoidance or school phobia. It can be seen in different types of situations, including: Young children going to school for the first time.

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 equally common in boys and girls?

Approximately 5–28% of school-age youths refuse school at some time in their lives. School refusal behavior is seen equally in boys and girls and among families of various income levels.

Is school refusal a mental illness?

School refusal, also known as school avoidance and school phobia, is not classified as a mental illness by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

What medication is used for school avoidance?

Separation Anxiety and School Refusal Medication: Tricyclic Antidepressants, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Anxiolytic Agents, Antihistamines, Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agents, Anticonvulsants, Alpha-Adrenergic Agents.

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 causes school avoidance?

What are the somatic symptoms of school refusal?

School refusal (SR) is commonly associated with somatic symptoms that are temporally related to school attendance. Abdominal pain, headache, vomiting, and musculoskeletal pain are frequently encountered and are usually not caused by a physical disease.

How do you respond when a child doesn't want to go to school?

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 Sophophobia?

According to L., 2019, Sophophobia is the fear of learning or studying; it is a type of phobia derived from the Greek words Sophia and phobia. Sophia refers to wisdom or knowledge, whereas phobia refers to fear.