School Absenteeism, Health-Related Quality of Life [HRQOL] and Happiness among Young Adults Aged 16–26 Years

Abstract

This study examines the association between school absenteeism, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and happiness among young adults aged 16–26 years attending vocational education. Cross-sectional data from a survey among 676 young adults were analyzed. School absenteeism was measured by the self-reported number of sick days in the past eight weeks and hours of truancy in the past four weeks. HRQOL was measured by the 12-item Short Form Health Survey; physical and mental component summary scores were calculated. General happiness was assessed on a scale of 0–10, higher scores indicating greater happiness. Linear regression analyses were performed. The study population had a mean age of 18.5 years (SD 2.2); 26.1% were boys. Young adults with ≥5 sick days or ≥6 h of truancy reported lower mental HRQOL compared to young adults without sickness absence or truancy (p < 0.05). Young adults with 1–4 and ≥5 sick days reported lower physical HRQOL compared to young adults who had not reported to be sick (p < 0.05). Young adults with 1–5 h and ≥6 h of truancy reported higher physical HRQOL compared to young adults who were not truant (p < 0.05). No associations were observed between school absence and happiness. Lower self-reported mental HRQOL was observed among young adults with more school absenteeism due to sickness or truancy. Sickness absence was additionally associated with lower physical HRQOL.

Transition to Employment Program (SUPER) for Youth at Risk: A Conceptual and Practical Model

“…Most researchers in the field have highlighted the significance of intervention programs for YAR and the implications for their academic, social, and mental well-being during their school years and future adulthood. Similarly, Knight et al's systematic review revealed that evaluation studies of intervention programs overlooked risk factors and were methodologically weak [11]. Many researchers have drawn attention to the lack of sufficient programs and evaluation research.…”

“…The described challenges that YAR face call for developing transitional programs; however, most are based on a uni-disciplinary educational approach and focus mostly on the school systems' environment. In a systematic review, Knight, Havard, Shakeshaft, Maple, Snijder, and Shakeshaft found that only 10% of 129 evaluation studies of interventions for high-risk young people addressed cooccurring risk factors, including disabilities, and they rated more than half of these studies as methodologically weak [11].…”

Clinical practitioners’ experiences of psychological treatment for autistic children and adolescents with school attendance problems: a qualitative study

“…There are other co-occurrent conditions, such as Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), whose prevalence is higher than 30% in patients with ASD, ranging from 28 to 87% [ 7 ], and intellectual disability (ID) is prevalent approximately 35,2% in individuals with ASD [ 2 ]. Furthermore, school absenteeism may also be related to present and later decreased quality of life (QoL) [ 8 ].…”

Addressing sickness absence among adolescents and young adults: an evaluation of the Medical Advice for Sick-reported Students intervention

“…School-related factors, such as elevated study pressure, are also linked to sickness absence [7]. Increased sickness absence was also found to be associated with decreased mental and physical health-related quality of life, with physical complaints, and with decreased school performance [6,[8][9][10]. Extensive sickness absence, a negative school attitude, and lower levels of achievement are strongly associated with early school leaving [11].…”