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School Ethos and Recurring Sickness Absence: A Multilevel Study of Ninth-Grade Students in Stockholm

Author

Listed:
  • Sara Brolin Låftman

    (Department of Public Health Sciences, Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Joacim Ramberg

    (Department of Special Education, Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Bitte Modin

    (Department of Public Health Sciences, Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden)

Abstract

School absence has been identified as a severe problem in Sweden, both at the individual level and for society as a whole. Despite the multitude and complexity of reasons behind school absence, health-related problems are likely to be one important determinant. This indicates that knowledge about factors that may contribute to preventing health-related absence among students is relevant. The aim was to investigate whether a higher level of teacher-reported school ethos was associated with less recurring sickness absence among students. Data from four cross-sectional surveys performed in 2014 and 2016 were combined. The Stockholm School Survey was carried out among 9482 ninth-grade students (ages 15–16 years) in 150 school units, and the Stockholm Teacher Survey was performed among 2090 teachers in the same units. School ethos was operationalised by an index of 12 teacher-reported items that was aggregated to the school-level. Recurring student sickness absence was captured by self-reports and defined as absence on >10 occasions during the current school year. Two-level logistic regressions were performed. The results show that about 9.5% of the students reported recurring sickness absence. Students attending schools with higher levels of teacher-rated school ethos were less likely to reporting recurring sickness absence than those attending schools with lower levels of ethos, even when adjusting for potential confounders (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.65–0.97). In conclusion, recurring sickness absence was less common among students attending schools with higher levels of teacher-rated ethos. The findings suggest that schools may contribute to promoting student health.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Brolin Låftman & Joacim Ramberg & Bitte Modin, 2020. "School Ethos and Recurring Sickness Absence: A Multilevel Study of Ninth-Grade Students in Stockholm," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-11, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:3:p:745-:d:312577
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bitte Modin & Stephanie Plenty & Sara B. Låftman & Malin Bergström & Marie Berlin & Per A. Gustafsson & Anders Hjern, 2018. "School Contextual Features of Social Disorder and Mental Health Complaints—A Multilevel Analysis of Swedish Sixth-Grade Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Bitte Modin & Sara B. Låftman & Viveca Östberg, 2017. "Teacher Rated School Ethos and Student Reported Bullying—A Multilevel Study of Upper Secondary Schools in Stockholm, Sweden," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Gower, Amy L. & McMorris, Barbara J. & Eisenberg, Marla E., 2015. "School-level contextual predictors of bullying and harassment experiences among adolescents," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 47-53.
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