The hope of educators is that children will obtain a strong educational foundation that will lead to life-long learning and a bright future. However, several factors may play a role in hindering a successful outcome. Addressing the at-risk indicators of excessive absences, discipline referrals, socioeconomic status, disability status, early grade retention, and family composition gives insight into struggles students face. Looking at 6 research questions, an independent sample t test was used to determine the difference in students who had excessive absences and discipline referrals in relation to school success. A chi-square analysis was used to identify the relationship between socioeconomic status, disability status, family composition, early grade retention, and school success. Results of the study suggested that there was a significant negative relationship between school success and poor attendance and with discipline referrals. Socioeconomic status was not significant when looking at school success. The study showed that students eligible for free and reduced price meals program had nearly the same chance for school success as students who were not eligible for free and reduced price meals program. Disability status and grade retention were not significant factors in school success. Students who lived in a nontraditional family were not at risk for school failure.

Hemmasittare är ett relativt nytt fenomen som innefattar barn och ungdomar som isolerar sig i hemmet och av olika anledningar inte förmår att gå i skolan. Att vara frånvarande i grundskolan under en längre period kan orsaka konsekvenser för individen. Syftet med studien är att få en förståelse för den tvärprofessionella samverkan mellan skola, barn- och ungdomspsykiatrin och socialtjänsten i arbetet med hemmasittare. Detta genom att beskriva och analysera de yrkesprofessionellas erfarenheter av handlingsutrymme inom ramen för samverkan. Detta är en kvalitativ studie där det empiriska materialet bygger på sju semistrukturerade intervjuer med yrkesprofessionella som kommer i kontakt med hemmasittare. Resultaten visar att de yrkesprofessionellas handlingsutrymme utmanar den tvärprofessionella samverkan. Faktorer som begränsar samverkan är handlingsutrymmets flexibilitet, tidsram, sekretess och otydlig ansvarsfördelning. Resultaten visar även att hemmasittare är ett nytt fenomen som leder till att det ännu inte finns en evidensbaserad metod på hur problematiken ska hanteras vilket är en begränsning. I följd med detta krävs en god kommunikation mellan aktörerna vilket även den visar sig vara bristfällig. Detta leder slutligen till långa väntetider och begränsade anpassade insatser som drabbar dagens hemmasittare. / Homesitters is a relatively new phenomenon that includes children and young people who isolate themselves at home and for various reasons are unable to go to school. The aim of the study is to gain an understanding of the cross-professional cooperation between school, children’s psychiatry, and social services in the work with homesitters. This by describing and analyzing the professionals' experiences of room for action within the framework of cooperation. This is a qualitative study where the empirical material is based on seven semi-structured interviews. The results show that the professionals' room for action challenges the collaboration between the operations. Factors that limit cooperation are the flexibility of the room for action, time frame, confidentiality, and unclear division of responsibilities. The result shows limitations with the fact that homesitters are a new phenomenon which leads to that there is not, yet any worked out template for homesitters to handle. Communication between the actors is required, which the results show today is deficient. Finally, it leads to today's homesitters suffering from long waiting times and limited customized interventions.

The current study examined the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness on differences by sex, race/ethnicity, and SES on BMI, depressive symptoms, and school absences among adolescents. a cross-sectional study was conducted in a north Texas school district, which included 609 Caucasian/Whites, 293 Hispanic/Latinos, and 113 African-American/Black adolescents (10-14 years). Main results of the study showed that that cardiorespiratory fitness was the largest predictor of BMI, followed by race/ethnicity, and then sex. Cardiorespiratory fitness among adolescents was inversely associated with BMI. the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness on BMI appeared to be more salient for non-Hispanic white females and non-Hispanic black females in that the former group had lower BMI scores than the latter group when cardiorespiratory fitness was taken into account; however, results showed that non-Hispanic white females and non-Hispanic black females had similar cardiorespiratory fitness level. Other results showed that SES and sex predicted depressive symptoms in that low SES females endorsed more depressive symptoms relative to high SES males; however, this relationship was non-existent when cardiorespiratory fitness was entered into the model. Additionally, findings indicated that BMI and depressive symptoms equally predicted school absences in that adolescents who had a higher BMI and endorsed more depressive symptoms had more school absences.

Health related absenteeism was identified as a problem in the schools in the Molopo region, needing a multi-disciplinary approach which included the parents. A conceptual framework on absenteeism was used as a guideline for the descriptive research design. Using a convenience sampling technique 426 absentees, 22 teachers and 2 school nurses filled in three separate questionnaires in ten schools selected to determine the extent of absenteeism due to health related and other problems, the control measures taken and the awareness of school personnel. Health problems were identified as the main reasons for absenteeism. Inadequate communication between the schools and parents as well as lack of guidelines on the control of absenteeism, were other problems identified. Recommendations made related to the provision of school health services that promote the health status of the pupils based on Primary Health Care principles, parental involvement in school health matters and the formulation of policies aimed at controlling absenteeism in schools. / Health Sciences / M.A. (Nursing Science)

Health related absenteeism was identified as a problem in the schools in the Molopo region, needing a multi-disciplinary approach which included the parents. A conceptual framework on absenteeism was used as a guideline for the descriptive research design. Using a convenience sampling technique 426 absentees, 22 teachers and 2 school nurses filled in three separate questionnaires in ten schools selected to determine the extent of absenteeism due to health related and other problems, the control measures taken and the awareness of school personnel. Health problems were identified as the main reasons for absenteeism. Inadequate communication between the schools and parents as well as lack of guidelines on the control of absenteeism, were other problems identified. Recommendations made related to the provision of school health services that promote the health status of the pupils based on Primary Health Care principles, parental involvement in school health matters and the formulation of policies aimed at controlling absenteeism in schools. / Health Sciences / M.A. (Nursing Science)

Bakgrund: I Sverige har det rapporterats en ökning bland barn och unga av psykiatriska diagnoser. En ökning av psykiska- samt psykosomatiska besvär hos ungdomar i åldern 13-15 år har konstaterats. Den upplevda skolmiljön ses som en stark koppling till elevernas ohälsa. Elever med långvarig skolfrånvaro riskerar att hamna i svårigheter både på kort och lång sikt. Idag används sociala tjänstehundar som särskilt stöd för elever med långvarig skolfrånvaro dock finns det en brist på kunskap om hur insatsens upplevs av både hundförare och eleven själv. Syfte: Studiens syfte var att undersöka elever och hundförares upplevelse av hundassisterad intervention som särskilt stöd vid långvarig skolfrånvaro. Metod: Två elever och tre hundförare intervjuades genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Dessa intervjuer genomfördes via videosamtal. Eleverna var i ålder 13-15 år och gick på högstadiet. Hundförarna arbetade på högstadiet på uppdrag av elevhälsan med hundassisterade interventioner som särskilt stöd vid långvarig skolfrånvaro. Resultat: Eleverna och hundförarna upplevde att hunden stöttade eleverna genom sitt bemötande, sin närhet och förmåga till relationsskapade. Detta ledde till att eleverna upplevde en förändring i sitt mående och i sin tillvaro. Eleverna upplevde en känsla av minskad stress och ångest, där elevernas vänskapliga relation till hundarna blev en betydande faktor i sin motivation till att komma till skolan, vara i skolan och utföra sina skolarbeten. Slutsats: Användningen av hundassisterade intervention som särskilt stöd vid långvarig skolfrånvaro upplevdes ge eleverna förändrade förutsättningar att öka sin närvaro i skolan. Elevernas vilja att vara med den sociala tjänstehunden bidrog till en ökad motivation att deltaga i sin skolgång. / Background: Sweden is currently witnessing an increase in diagnosed psychiatric disorders among juveniles of all ages, within which an upsurge in psychological and psychosomatic maladies has been noted in the 13-15 year old demographic. The social environment of a student’s school is seen to have a direct relationship to said student’s potential mental health issues, which can lead to extended absences. Such absences increase the risk of continued problems for the student, even beyond the realm of mental health, in the short and long term. Therapydogs are now used to provide special assistance for students with extended absences from school, however, there is a lack of knowledge how this is experienced by both doghandlers and students. Aim: The aim of this study is to observe students’ and dog handlers’ experience with canine-assisted intervention as a form of special assistance for those with extended school absences. Method: Two students and three dog handlers were interviewed with the “semi-structured interview” technique via videocall. The students were ages 13-15, and study at the middle school. The dog handlers work with student health at the students’ middle school, using canine-assisted intervention as a form of special assistance to those with extended absences from school. Results: The students and the dog handlers felt that canine interaction supported the students in their attempts to create and develop meaningful relationships. This led to positive changes in the students’ temperament and mental health in general. The diminishment of feelings of stress and anxiety can be linked to the friendly relationships built with the dogs, ultimately resulting in an increased motivation attend school and complete schoolwork. Conclusion: The use of canine-assisted intervention as special assistance to those with extended school absences was seen to give students positively changed attitudes towards school attendance, with the students’ desire to build a relationship with the therapydog as a contributing factor towards this change.