School refusal is a serious problem that negatively affects academic performance, connection to school, and socioemotional well-being of students. Numerous scientific works have suggested that school refusal is associated with internalizing problems. However, it is necessary to determine how this condition may affect certain academic variables,…

This descriptive study examined the perceptions of a national sample of school psychologists in the United States regarding their perceived knowledge, preferred roles, and training needs in the prevention and treatment of nine prominent child and adolescent internalizing disorders. The results indicated that participants perceived the prevention…

The current study aimed to investigate emotion regulation (ER) strategy use in a sample of 21 clinic-referred children and adolescents (10-14 years old) presenting with school refusal, all of whom were diagnosed with at least one anxiety disorder. Being the first known study to examine ER and school refusal, hypotheses were guided by previous…

The following multiple baseline case series examines school refusal behavior in 4 male adolescents. School refusal symptom presentation was ascertained utilizing a functional analysis from the School Refusal Assessment Scale (Kearney, 2002). For the majority of cases, treatment was conducted within a 15-session intensive format over a 3-week…

The author offers a program for a group of irresponsible, uncommitted, unproductive, and generally maladjusted boys. The program aims at increased school attendance, improved grades, increased peer acceptance, decreased school suspension, increased willingness to accept legitimate authority and increased educational and vocational aspirations.…

Reviews studies that have examined comorbid syndromal and symptomatic depression and school refusal behavior. Discusses implications for classification systems, including need for flexible taxonomic strategies that include persons with severe collective, and less severe individual, symptoms of negative affectivity. Discusses recommendations for…

Fears profiles among children and adolescents were explored using the Fear Survey Schedule for Children-American version (FSSC-AM; J.J. Burnham, 1995, 2005). Eight cluster profiles were identified via multistage Euclidean grouping and supported by homogeneity coefficients and replication. Four clusters reflected overall level of fears (i.e., very…

School phobia is an irrational fear or anxiety about attending school. Definite distinctions can be made between the school phobic and the truant, both of whom miss school on a regular basis. It appears that the incidence of school phobia is evenly distributed between the sexes and among age levels from 5 through 15 years, and is not significantly…

of the 1/3 to 2/3 of school phobic adolescents who had returned to school after treatment at the in-patient unit, 1/3 of the group were well-adjusted, 1/3 had limited functioning, and 1/3 were severely incapacitated by neurotic problems and interpersonal difficulties. This paper is the basis of a talk delivered, by invitation, at the Charles Burns…

Surveyed 63 professional psychologists specializing in youth and family practice about recently referred and treated cases of school refusal behavior. Obtained data on clinical prevalence; demographic characteristics; length of absenteeism; severity; etiology; and length, type, and success of treatments used. Results revealed that children…

The purpose of this study was to identify the common denominators in the background of adolescent high school students that could account for the presence of school phobia. (Author/RK)

This paper focuses on two aspects of the management of early adolescent school phobia: working out an attendance contract with the student and with the school, and the role of the school in facilitating a student's early return to school. (Author/RK)

A FIVE TO 10 YEAR FOLLOW-UP STUDY OF A GROUP OF 16 CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ORIGINALLY HOSPITALIZED FOR A SCHOOL PHOBIC SYNDROME IS REPORTED. THE PRIMARY FOCUS WAS UPON 14 NEUROTIC CHILDREN. THE OTHER TWO CHILDREN WERE CLASSIFIED AS BORDERLINE PSYCHOTICS. AT THE TIME OF THE FOLLOW-UP, THE FOUR MALES AND 10 FEMALES RANGED IN AGE FROM 14 TO 23 WITH…

The symptoms of school phobia were found to be student withdrawal, unwillingness of the student to leave the mother, being either the oldest child of the family or the last one left at home, and having an impulsive, violent, sadistic philandering father. Five adolescents are examined in detail and a proposal is made that adolescence is a time…

Non-attendance in school as an avoiding behavior is discussed with implications for counselor intervention. (BL)