The Relationship Between Individual Characteristics and Social Independence Among Children with a Tendency Towards School Refusal

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between individual characteristics and social independence among children with a tendency towards school refusal, thereby contributing to more effective interventions and support for these children. We surveyed the home visit supporters and parents/guardians of 139 children exhibiting school refusal behavior residing in prefecture A. The questionnaire questions consisted of the child’s age, gender, presence or absence of disabilities, degree of disabilities and social independence. Data from 137 supporters and 73 parents/guardians, excluding data with missing values, was subject to statistical analysis. A social independence scale was developed and a MIMIC model was examined by structural equation modeling. The result of the analysis confirmed the compatibility of the MIMIC model (CFI=0.956, RMSEA=0.074) and specifically revealed that the children’s social independence related to the degree of their developmental disability. The number of latent ranks for the social independence variable was three. This study concludes by discussing interventions to support the social independence of children who engage in school refusal.