School Refusal Behavior of Primary First Class Pupils in Baghdad

Abstract

Objectives: The study aims to assess the school refusal behavior of first class pupils at primary schools and identifying the relationship between the school refusal behavior and some of socio-demographic characteristics for the pupils.

Methodology:  A descriptive-analytic study was initiated from November 1^st, 2012 to April 1^st, 2013. A random sample of 411 students is selected from a probability stratified sample of 17 primary schools for both sexes in 4 sectors in Baghdad Al-Rasafa and Al-Karkh districts which are selected randomly from first class of primary school. A Self administrative questionnaire (Parents' Version) which constructed by the researcher includes two parts: the socio- demographic variables of the pupils and school refusal behavior scale items. Content validity was determined through the use of panel experts. The internal consistency of the instrument was determined through the computation of Alpha Correlation Coefficient which is statistically acceptable (r = 0.77). Data are analyzed through the application of descriptive and inferential statistical approaches by using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16.0.

Results: The finding of the study revealed that Most of the pupils are firstborn male live in nuclear family with 1-3 children in the family resident in crowded city; they do not attend preschool or kindergarten. The school refusal behavior has been shown to be low level among pupils. There is positive relationship between gender and child's order and there is moderate relationship among other variables. There is positive relationship between school refusal behavior, family type, and residency place while there is negative relationship between school refusal behavior and numbers of children. The findings reveal also negative relationship between residency place and family type.

Recommendations: The study recommended to conduct research with different variables on a large sample to be national survey for assessing school refusal behavior and exploring school refusal behavior associated with psychiatric problems such as bipolar disorder, depressive disorder and separation anxiety disorder.