School Can’t: Viewing school refusal as a stress/distress response through the lived and living experience of children and parents

Presentation

Leslie, R., Oberg, G., Townley, D.C., Westphal, T. and Rogers, M.L.. 2025. "School Can’t: Viewing school refusal as a stress/distress response through the lived and living experience of children and parents." European Conference on School Attendance. Ermelo, Netherlands 24 - 26 Sep 2025
Paper/Presentation Title

School Can’t: Viewing school refusal as a stress/distress response through the lived and living experience of children and parents

Presentation TypePresentation
AuthorsLeslie, R., Oberg, G., Townley, D.C., Westphal, T. and Rogers, M.L.
Year2025
Conference/EventEuropean Conference on School Attendance
Event Details
European Conference on School Attendance
Delivery
In person
Event Date
24 to end of 26 Sep 2025
Event Location
Ermelo, Netherlands
Abstract

This session explores a social-ecological lens for understanding school attendance challenges, arguing that the term "school refusal" pathologises students and overlooks complex individual and socio-environmental factors. The authors suggest using "school-related emotional dis/stress" and "school can't" to better reflect individual identities of children and young people as well as school-based stressors. Highlighting the overrepresentation of neurodiverse, LGBTQI+, and Indigenous students in non-attendance data, the presentation draws on interviews with Australian children, adolescents, and caregivers to introduce "school can't" and its relationship to emotional dis/stress, offering insights into their lived experiences.

Keywordsschool attendance, school distress
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390407. Inclusive education
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https://research.usq.edu.au/item/zz2vy/school-can-t-viewing-school-refusal-as-a-stress-distress-response-through-the-lived-and-living-experience-of-children-and-parents

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