An exploration of the relationship between trait anxiety and school attendance in young people
An exploration of the relationship between trait anxiety and school attendance in young people
Previous research has consistently found an association between elevated anxiety and school refusal behaviour (SRB) in children and young people. Kearney (J Child Psychol Psychiatry 48:53–61, 2007) suggested that this relationship is best understood by exploring motivations underlying SRB. The present study aimed to establish whether motivating factors associated with non-attendance could explain the relationship between trait anxiety and school attendance in a community sample of 162 12–13-year-old young people. We measured motivating factors using the School Refusal Assessment Scale-Revised (SRAS-R; Kearney in J Psychopathol Behav Assess 24:235–245, 2002). In addition, we assessed the factor structure of the SRAS-R using confirmatory factor analysis. Goodness-of-fit indices supported a three-factor model highlighting motivational factors related to negative affect, social avoidance and attention-seeking. The results showed a negative relationship between trait anxiety and school attendance that was mediated by social avoidance and attention-seeking. We suggested that a consideration of motivating factors is important to understand and address anxiety-related non-attendance in young people
236-244
Richards, Helen J.
e4d20ed7-1efd-4310-8f9c-440e5eed78f5
Hadwin, Julie A.
a364caf0-405a-42f3-a04c-4864817393ee
December 2011
Richards, Helen J.
e4d20ed7-1efd-4310-8f9c-440e5eed78f5
Hadwin, Julie A.
a364caf0-405a-42f3-a04c-4864817393ee
Richards, Helen J. and Hadwin, Julie A.
(2011)
An exploration of the relationship between trait anxiety and school attendance in young people.
School Mental Health, 3 (4), .
(doi:10.1007/s12310-011-9054-9).
Abstract
Previous research has consistently found an association between elevated anxiety and school refusal behaviour (SRB) in children and young people. Kearney (J Child Psychol Psychiatry 48:53–61, 2007) suggested that this relationship is best understood by exploring motivations underlying SRB. The present study aimed to establish whether motivating factors associated with non-attendance could explain the relationship between trait anxiety and school attendance in a community sample of 162 12–13-year-old young people. We measured motivating factors using the School Refusal Assessment Scale-Revised (SRAS-R; Kearney in J Psychopathol Behav Assess 24:235–245, 2002). In addition, we assessed the factor structure of the SRAS-R using confirmatory factor analysis. Goodness-of-fit indices supported a three-factor model highlighting motivational factors related to negative affect, social avoidance and attention-seeking. The results showed a negative relationship between trait anxiety and school attendance that was mediated by social avoidance and attention-seeking. We suggested that a consideration of motivating factors is important to understand and address anxiety-related non-attendance in young people
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Published date: December 2011
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Local EPrints ID: 204909
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/204909
ISSN: 1866-2625
PURE UUID: a740ffbc-f298-40db-8d4b-31b9e7aa389d
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Date deposited: 05 Dec 2011 11:08
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 04:33
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Helen J. Richards
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