PREDICTORS OF SEVERITY OF ABSENTEEISM IN CHILDREN WITH ANXIETY-BASED SCHOOL REFUSAL

Examined possible relations among sociodemographic, clinical, and fami lial variables and level of school absenteeism in children with anxiet y-based school refusal. These children exhibit a great deal of variabi lity in the severity of school refusal, with some youngsters missing o nly an occasional day of school, whereas others exhibit pervasive scho ol absenteeism. Participants were 76 children referred for treatment o f anxiety-based school refusal. Children and a parent completed a stru ctured clinical interview (Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizo phrenia for School-Age Children) and self-report measures that assess children's levels of fear (Fear Survey Schedule for Children-Revised), trait and somatic anxiety (Modified State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children), and depressive symptomatology (Children's Depression Inven tory), as well as family environment characteristics (Family Environme nt Scale). Regression analyses revealed that older age, lower levels o f fear, and less active families were primary predictors of greater le vels of school absenteeism.