Title: School non-attendance among adolescents with ADHD or AS

Abstract

Objectives: Having a neurodevelopmental disorder, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorders (AS) pose a risk for elevated school absenteeism. Insight into the mechanisms of the association is needed. The aim of the present study was to investigate school attendance problems (SAP) and both the symptoms related and the perceived reasons for them, as reported by adolescents with ADHD (n=95), AS (n = 14) compared with neurotypical adolescents (n=1,474). Methods: The current study (N=1,583) used the Inventory of School Attendance Problems (ISAP), consisting of a symptom (ISAP S) and a function subscale (ISAP F), to measure SAPs. A linear mixed effects model was used to analyze outcomes on the ISAP factors, controlling for background variables living status, gender, other diagnoses, highest level of education for the parent and age. Results: More than 10 % absence was reported by 16 % of adolescents with ADHD, 8 % by the neurotypical group and 3/7 respondents in the AS group. Adolescents with ADHD showed significantly more symptoms of agoraphobia/ panic, problems within the family and problems with parents than neurotypical peers. The symptoms separation anxiety, agoraphobia/ panic, aggression, problems within the family and problems with parents more often were perceived as the reason for SAP. Trends within the AS group will be presented at the conference. Conclusions: Neuroatypical youth report increased rates of school absence. The current study showed that the reasons for absence for adolescents with ADHD, AS were similar, but reported to an elevated level, compared with neurotypical adolescents. The results are discussed in light of previous literature and presenting clinical implications.

Biography

Katarina Alanko is a Finnish psychologist, focusing on child and adolescent development and wellbeing. She is currently the PI of the “School Non-attendance in Finland and in Sweden” project, aiming to study the phenomena of school attendance problems, validate measurement instruments and study intervention efficacy in the two countries. She conducts her research at the Swedish-speaking university in Finland, Åbo Akademi.