Treatment for School Refusal Among Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maynard, Brandy R.; Heyne, David; Brendel, Kristen Esposito; Bulanda, Jeffery J.; Thompson, Aaron M.; Pigott, Terri D.
• Other Names: Maynard Brandy R. guest-editor.; Littell Julia H. guest-editor.; Shlonsky Aron guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Research on social work practice. Volume 28:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: 56
• Page End: 67
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: school refusal -- anxiety -- absenteeism -- treatment -- cognitive behavior therapy; Social service -- Periodicals; 361.3205
• DOI: 10.1177/1049731515598619
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-7315

Abstract

Objective: School refusal is a psychosocial problem associated with adverse short- and long-term consequences for children and adolescents. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the effects of psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents with school refusal. Method: A comprehensive search process was used to find eligible randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies assessing the effects of psychosocial treatments on anxiety or attendance outcomes. Data were quantitatively synthesized using meta-analytic methods. Results: Eight studies including 435 children and adolescents with school refusal were included in this review. Significant effects were found for attendance but not for anxiety. Conclusions: Evidence indicates that improvements in school attendance occur for children and adolescents with school refusal who receive psychosocial treatment. The lack of evidence of short-term effects on anxiety points to the need for long-term follow-up studies to determine whether increased attendance ultimately leads to reduced anxiety.