Association of pupil vandalism, bullying and truancy with teachers' absence due to illness: A multilevel analysis

: Ervasti J, Kivimaki M, Puusniekka R, Luopa P, Pentti J, Suominen S, Vahtera J, Virtanen M

Publisher: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

: 2012

: Journal of School Psychology

: JOURNAL OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY

: J SCHOOL PSYCHOL

: 3

: 50

: 3

: 347

: 361

: 15

: 0022-4405

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2011.11.006

The aim of this study was to examine whether vandalism, bullying, and truancy among pupils at school are associated with absence due to illness among teachers. Data on such problem behaviour of 17,033 pupils ill 90 schools were linked to absence records of 2364 teachers. Pupil reported vandalism and bullying at the school-level were associated with teachers' short-term (1- to 3-day) absences. Cumulative exposure to various forms of pupils' problem behaviour was associated with even higher rates of short-term absences among teachers. No association was found between pupils' problem behaviour and teachers' long-term (> 3-day) absences. In conclusion, there seems to be a link between pupils' problem behaviour and teachers' short-term absence due to illness. Further work should determine whether problem behaviour is a cause or a consequence of absences or whether the association is noncausal. (C) 2011 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.