Risk for School Refusal among Autistic Boys Bullied at School: Investigating Associations with Social Phobia and Separation Anxiety

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  • Author(s): Bitsika, Vicki; Sharpley, Chris; Heyne, David
  • Language:
    English
  • Source:
    International Journal of Disability, Development and Education. 2022 69(1):190-203.
  • Publication Date:
    2022
  • Document Type:
    Journal Articles
    Reports - Research
  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      14
    • Education Level:
      Elementary Education
      Secondary Education
    • Subject Terms:
      Males; Autism; Anxiety Disorders; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Bullying; Intervention; Attendance; Behavior Problems; Correlation; Comparative Analysis; Elementary School Students; Secondary School Students; Foreign Countries
    • Subject Terms:
      Australia
    • Accession Number:
      10.1080/1034912X.2021.1969544
    • ISSN:
      1034-912X
    • Abstract:
      Autistic youth bullied at school are at risk for school refusal (SR), which may grow from emerging SR (ESR). SR and ESR have been associated with social phobia and separation anxiety among neurotypical youth but these associations have not been studied among autistic youth. The associations between both types of anxiety and in a sample of 71 autistic boys aged 6 to 18 years (M = 10.23, SD = 1.43). Eighty-two percent of boys reported being bullied at school, and 55% of these boys asked to stay home from school. Boys who asked to stay home had a significantly higher level of separation anxiety than boys who did not ask to stay home. There was no difference between these two groups with respect to levels of social phobia. At the item level, two of the four social phobia symptoms were significantly correlated with the request to stay home from school as were seven of the eight symptoms of separation anxiety. Results suggest that autistic boys bullied at school do not seek to avoid school because they are shy in social situations, but because they want to spend time with their parents. Implications for intervention are discussed.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Publication Date:
      2022
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1337791