Pathways to increased attendance: Young people's experiences of turning absence to attendance in school

Abstract

School attendance problems (SAPs) have received increased attention internationally in recent years; however, there are still few qualitative studies that explore attendance promotion from the perspective of young people with such experiences and who have managed to increase their attendance. This study contributes by focusing on six young people's experiences of and perspectives on pathways to increased attendance and support related to SAPs in Sweden. Qualitative interviews were conducted with young people with experiences of SAPs, and a thematic analysis was conducted. The results reveal that a combination of relational (informal) and formal support, mainly in the social and learning environment in school, but also from actors outside school, stood out as helpful in increasing their attendance. The young people emphasized that schools should listen to them, understand, offer inclusive support and hope in order to promote attendance. The results might be understood in light of recognition theory by stressing the significance of individual recognition in school in order to promote attendance and that SAPs might be understood as a way for young people to protect themselves from a lack of recognition in different spheres within the school context.