Risk and Influencing Factors for School Absenteeism among Students on the Autism Spectrum—A Systematic Review

Abstract

School plays an important role in the development of a child. The impact of school absenteeism extends beyond academic achievement, affecting one's ability to participate in life successfully. In particular, children with difficulties in communication and interaction are at risk of developing school absences. This systematic review therefore focused on school absenteeism among children on the autism spectrum and examined the risk and influencing factors contributing to school absences. Eighteen studies were included, thirteen of which used a quantitative design, two of which were mixed-method studies, and three of which had a qualitative design. Different studies had varying definitions of school absenteeism and employed diverse study designs, prompting the need for a narrative synthesis. We evaluated the data regarding the factors of individual, parental, and school based on the KiTes bioecological systems framework for school attendance and absence by Melvin et al. (2019). We identified the majority of risks and influences in relation to the school factor and identified interacting factors contributing to school absenteeism in all factors. We recognised research gaps and provided guidance for further research.