Predicting School Absenteeism in Japan: A Three-Year Longitudinal Study

2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23653210
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Clinical psychology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Future University
• Principal Investigator: KONDO Toshiaki 東京未来大学, 公私立大学の部局等, 教授 (60337459)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): DEGUCHI Yasuyuki 東京未来大学, こども心理学部, 教授 (30460306)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): VALENTI Stavros Hofstra University (USA), Psychology Department, Professor ; COX Brian Hofstra University (USA), Psychology Department, Associate Professor
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2013
• Keywords: 国際交流研究 / 不登校 / 予兆行動 / 予兆行動の機能 / 不登校の予防

Research Abstract

This research aimed to identify behavioral predictors of school absenteeism, following up three cohorts of first to third grades, fourth to six grades, and seventh to ninth grades, for three years longitudinally. School Refusal Assessment Scale - Revised (Kearney, 2002) was used to find and classifies behavioral predictors into either of four functions; (1)Avoidance of negative affectivity, (2)Escape from social evaluation, (3)Attention getting behavior, and, (4)Pursuit of tangible reinforcement.
A significant function of school absenteeism, beginning as early as the first grade, is to avoid (1) negative affect and (2)escape from social evaluation. Furthermore, these factors appear to operate across a broad range of grades through elementary and junior high school. Our results suggest that effective interventions should target these behvioral predictors across school and home contexts beginning in early elementary school.

Research Products

• [Presentation] Predicting School Absenteeism in Japan : A Three-Year Longitudinal Study (2014)
  • Author(s): 近藤俊明, 出口保行, Valenti, S., & Cox, B
  • Organizer: American Psychological Association Annual Convention
  • Place of Presentation: Washington
  • Year and Date: 2014-08-07
• [Presentation] 文化・発達的心理療法 (2013)
  • Author(s): 近藤俊明
  • Organizer: 日本心理臨床学会第32回大会
  • Place of Presentation: 横浜パシフィコ
  • Year and Date: 2013-08-28
• [Presentation] Predictors of School Absenteeism in Japan (2013)
  • Author(s): 近藤俊明, 出口保行, Valenti, S., & Cox, B
  • Organizer: American Psychological Association Annual Convention
  • Place of Presentation: Honolulu, Hawaii
  • Year and Date: 2013-08-03
• [Presentation] Predictors of School Absenteeism in Japan : First Year of a Multiple Cohort Longitudinal Study (2012)
  • Author(s): 近藤俊明, 出口保行, Valenti, S., & Cox, B
  • Organizer: Am erican Psychological Association Annual Convention
  • Place of Presentation: Honolulu, Hawaii
  • Year and Date: 2012-08-03
• [Presentation] 不登校の予兆傾向と予防に関する研究 (2011)
  • Author(s): 近藤俊明・出口保行
  • Organizer: 日本心理臨床学会第30回大会
  • Place of Presentation: 福岡国際会議場
  • Year and Date: 2011-09-02
• [Remarks] 近藤俊明, 出口保行, Valenti, S., & Cox, B. 2014不登校の予兆行動と予防に関する研究 : 小 1, 小4, 中1の各学年を3年間追跡して 東京未来大学(2014/9, 発刊予定)