Association of pupil vandalism, bullying and truancy with teachers' absence due to illness: A multilevel analysis

• Published in: Journal of school psychology Vol. 50; no. 3; pp. 347 - 361
• Main Authors: Ervasti, Jenni, Kivimäki, Mika, Puusniekka, Riikka, Luopa, Pauliina, Pentti, Jaana, Suominen, Sakari, Vahtera, Jussi, Virtanen, Marianna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Absenteeism; Adult; Attendance; Behavior Problems; Behavioural problems; Bullying; Correlation; Crime - statistics & numerical data; Data Analysis; Elementary Secondary Education; Evaluation Methods; Faculty - statistics & numerical data; Female; Finland; Humans; Male; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Middle Aged; Multilevel modelling; Pupil problem behaviour; Pupils; Retrospective Studies; School environment; School Psychology; Schools - statistics & numerical data; Secondary school; Short term; Sick Leave - statistics & numerical data; Sickness absenteeism; Student Dropouts; Teacher Educators; Teacher wellbeing; Teachers; Truancy; Vandalism; Finland; Pupil problem behaviour; Sickness absenteeism; Teacher wellbeing; School environment; Multilevel modelling; Secondary school
• ISSN: 0022-4405; 1873-3506; 1873-3506
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsp.2011.11.006

The aim of this study was to examine whether vandalism, bullying, and truancy among pupils at school are associated with absence due to illness among teachers. Data on such problem behaviour of 17,033 pupils in 90 schools were linked to absence records of 2364 teachers. Pupil reported vandalism and bullying at the school-level were associated with teachers' short-term (1- to 3-day) absences. Cumulative exposure to various forms of pupils' problem behaviour was associated with even higher rates of short-term absences among teachers. No association was found between pupils' problem behaviour and teachers' long-term (>3-day) absences. In conclusion, there seems to be a link between pupils' problem behaviour and teachers' short-term absence due to illness. Further work should determine whether problem behaviour is a cause or a consequence of absences or whether the association is noncausal.