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School PhobiaMaureen Tyrrell RN, BSN, is a graduate student at Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ, and a school nurse at Lillian M. Dunfee Elementary School, Barnegat, NJ. This article was adapted from a paper completed as part of the graduate program at Monmouth University School phobia is a serious disorder affecting up to 5% of elementary and middle school children. Long-term consequences include academic failure, diminished peer relationships, parental conflict, and development of additional psychiatric disorders. Hiding behind such common physical symptoms as headaches, stomachaches, and fatigue, school phobia evades diagnosis with ease. Unraveling the problem of school phobia is challenging for the school nurse and is complicated by an overall lack of knowledge regarding the serious potential outcomes. The purpose of this article is to define school phobia, differentiate it from truancy, and highlight some interventions useful in the treatment of this increasingly common and potentially serious disorder.
Key Words: school avoidance school phobia school refusal truancy
The Journal of School Nursing, Vol. 21, No. 3,
147-151 (2005) |
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