A review and qualitative synthesis of the voices of children, parents, and school staff with regards to school attendance problems in the Nordic countries

Abstract

School attendance problems (SAPs) have implications for children’s and adolescents’ academic, social, and personal development. Previous research has mainly been conducted using quantitative methods. In the present study, the authors searched specific databases for studies reporting qualitative data representing the voices of children, parents, and school staff regarding SAPs in the Nordic countries. 17 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis. Results provided by included articles were manually coded and translated into subthemes and summary themes. Overall, findings indicated that children, parents, and school staff all share a common goal of a return to school for the child. Nevertheless, it was concluded that there exists an array of barriers obstructing attainment of such a goal. This qualitative synthesis adds to the limited, yet growing body of qualitative research on the voices of children, parents, and school staff regarding SAPs.