|
Affiliation
|
University of Colorado at Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus, Adult and Child Consortium for Health Outcomes Research and Delivery Science, Aurora, CO, USA; Children's Hospital Colorado, Department of Pediatrics, Aurora, CO, USA. |
|
Abstract
|
OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between chronic school absenteeism and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among school-aged children.
METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health including children 6-17 years old. The primary outcome variable was chronic school absenteeism (> 15 days absent in past year). We examined the association between chronic school absenteeism and ACEs using logistic regression with weighting for individual ACEs, summed ACE score, and latent class analysis of ACEs.
RESULTS: Among the 58,765 school-aged children in the study sample, 2,416 (4.1%) experienced chronic school absenteeism. Witnessing or experiencing neighborhood violence was the only individual ACE significantly associated with chronic absenteeism (aOR 1.55 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-2.01). Having one or more ACE was significantly associated with chronic absenteeism: 1 ACE (aOR 1.35 95% CI 1.02-1.79), 2-3 ACEs (aOR 1.81 95% CI 1.39-2.36) and ≥ 4 ACEs (aOR 1.79 95% CI 1.32-2.43). Three of the latent classes were also associated with chronic absenteeism and children in these classes had a high probability of endorsing neighborhood violence, family substance use, or having multiple ACEs.
CONCLUSIONS: ACEs exposure was associated with chronic school absenteeism in school-aged children. To improve school attendance, along with future graduation rates and long-term health, these findings highlight the need for an interdisciplinary approach to address child adversity that involves pediatricians, mental health providers, schools, and public health partners.
Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Language: en |