What the study found
US children with chronic health needs and household health-related social needs had higher rates of elevated health-related school absenteeism, defined as missing 11 or more school days because of illness or injury in the past year. The highest estimated probability was seen in children who had both types of needs.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that these findings highlight potential opportunities to improve health and educational outcomes through targeted interventions focused on children with chronic health needs and health-related social needs. The study suggests that absenteeism may signal underlying health and social challenges.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used data from the 2022-2023 National Survey of Children's Health in a cross-sectional study of US children ages 6 to 17 years with available absenteeism data. They examined associations between chronic health needs, household-level health-related social needs, and elevated health-related school absenteeism, while accounting for age, sex, race and ethnicity, and income.
What worked and what didn't
In the weighted sample, elevated health-related school absenteeism was reported by 6.8% of children, representing an estimated 3.4 million children. The estimated probability was 1.8% among children with neither chronic health needs nor health-related social needs, 4.4% among those with chronic health needs only, 3.7% among those with health-related social needs only, and 9.4% among those with both.
What to keep in mind
This was a cross-sectional study, so it shows associations rather than cause and effect. The abstract does not describe additional limitations beyond the study design and the available data.
Key points
- The study linked chronic health needs and household health-related social needs with higher school absenteeism.
- Children with both types of needs had the highest estimated probability of missing 11 or more school days.
- Elevated health-related school absenteeism was estimated at 6.8% overall, or about 3.4 million children.
- The comparison group with neither type of need had the lowest estimated probability of absenteeism, at 1.8%.
- The study used 2022-2023 National Survey of Children's Health data from US children ages 6 to 17 years.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Chronic health and social needs linked to more school absenteeism
- Authors:
- Michelle Shankar, Samantha Levano, Miya Lemberg, Jonathan M. Gabbay, Marina Reznik, Michael L. Rinke, Kevin Fiori, Rebecca Dudovitz
- Institutions:
- Children's Hospital at Montefiore, University of California, Los Angeles
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-27
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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