Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education

Region V- Bicol

Schools Division Office of Catanduanes

Bato Rural Development High School

Banawang, Bato, Catanduanes

Determining the Underlying Factor of Frequent Absenteeism Among Senior

Prepared by:

Ryza T. Domagco
 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter covers the related literature and studies after the thorough and

in-depth search done by the researchers. To fully comprehend the research that

needs to be done, this also presents the gaps bridged by the study, synthesis of the

state of the art and the conceptual framework.

Related Literature

Chanda (2023) stated that absenteeism refers to the practice of regularly

staying away from school without providing a genuine or any reason for not attending

classes. It is a truant behavior that negatively affects the performance of students in

academics.

Student absenteeism is defined by Teasley (2004) as a period of time when a

student does not attend school, has become major and continuous problem among

high school students in many countries. Indeed, numerous studies conducted to

answer a question that is why high school students miss classes. In this notion,

Teasley have noted numerous risk factors that contribute to student absenteeism

such as family health, low income, poor school climate, drug and alcohol use,

transportation problems, and community attitudes towards education.

Reasons, why students do not attend school can be influenced by several

factors ranging from the lack of community support, unsupportive school

environment, family matters, bad weather, transportation problems, poor health, peer

pressure, and the addiction to social media (Ingul et. al, 2012)
 Frequent school absenteeism has immediate and long-term negative effects

on academic performance, social functioning, high school and college graduation

rates, adult income, health, and life expectancy. Chronic absenteeism appears to be

driven by overlapping medical, individual, family, and social factors, including chronic

illness, mental health conditions, bullying, perceived lack of safety, health problems

or needs of other family member, inconsistent parenting, poor school climate,

economic disadvantage, and unreliable transportation (Allen et. al, 2018).

Related Studies

The research of Silverman et. al (2014) “The Impact of Mental Health on

Student Absenteeism and Academic Achievement” investigates the impact of mental

health problems, such as depression and anxiety, to student absenteeism and

academic performance, highlighting the importance of mental health screenings and

support services in schools.

According to the research of National Center for Homeless Education (2015)

“School Policies and Practices to Address Chronic Absenteeism: A Guide for Action”

it provides practical guidance for schools to develop and implement effective policies

and interventions to address chronic absenteeism, focusing on early identification,

attendance tracking, and collaborative support systems.

As stated in the research of Dizon et. al (2018) about the “Causes of

Absenteeism among the Senior High School Students of Sangbay Integrated

School” it identifies the primary reasons for absenteeism among senior high school

students in the Philippines, highlighting distance from school, personal attitudes,

health issues, and classroom environment as key factors.

Students Attendance through Family and Community Involvement” stated that

student with absenteeism miss opportunities to learn the material that enables them

to succeed later in school and; fall behind their classmates in academic

achievement. In this notion, previous studies has revealed that student absenteeism

is related to academic failure and academic performance.

According to the research of Henry (2007) “Who’s Skipping School:

Characteristics of truants from 8th and 10th grade”, students negative beliefs of being

successful in school negatively impact on motivation. Considering theoretical

explanations and research findings, it can be concluded that students’ negative

beliefs about their academic ability, negative attitudes towards teacher and school

may negatively impact student motivation to go to school.

Synthesis of the State of the Art

The collective conclusion drawn from all the recent studies indicates that

absenteeism can result from a variety of causes, as demonstrated by Dizon et. al

(2018) study, who claimed that classroom atmosphere, personal attitudes, and

school distance are the main causes of absenteeism among senior high school

students in the Philippines. Additional research by Silverman et. al (2014)

emphasizes that among the other factors influencing students’ academic

performance are health issues including anxiety and depression. In addition, Henry

(2007) research revealed how students’ negative beliefs about their chances of

success can affect their desire to attend class. The National Center for Homeless

Education (2015) conducted a study that offered helpful advice on how schools may

create and carry out efficient policies and intervention to deal with chronic
absenteeism. Demonstrating how the issues of absenteeism can be resolved by

putting in place sensible regulations and taking appropriate action to deal with the

issue.

Gaps Bridged by the Study

The collected recent studies gathered by the researcher shows some of the

factors that affect absenteeism and also some solutions that could address this

problem but none of these studies have been conducted to the specific area where

this study will be done. Therefore making this study as the first one to be conducted

in Bato Rural Development High School, focusing on determining the underlying

factors of frequent absenteeism among senior high school students in BRDHS.

Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework for this research proposes that frequent

absenteeism among senior high school students in BRDHS is a complex

phenomenon influenced by **intertwined individual, family, and school-related

factors**. These factors interact and contribute to a student’s decision to be absent

from school.

Individual factors encompass academic performance, motivation, mental

health, and personal challenges. Poor academic performance and lack of motivation

can lead to disengagement and decreased desire to attend school. Mental health

issues such as anxiety or depression can also create barriers to regular attendance.

Additionally, personal challenges like family circumstances, financial difficulties, or

health problems can necessitate absences.

Family factors include parental support, family environment, and

socioeconomic status. Lack of parental support, a chaotic or conflictual home

without strong family support or facing significant challenges at home may struggle

to prioritize school attendance.

School-related factors involve school climate, teacher-student relationships,

academic pressure, and curriculum relevance**. A negative school climate

characterized by bullying, poor management, or lack of student engagement can

discourage attendance. Unfriendly or unsupportive teacher-student relationships can

also contribute to disengagement and absenteeism. High academic pressure or a

curriculum perceived as irrelevant to students’ interests can further decrease

motivation and lead to absences.

This conceptual framework recognizes that these factors act together, with

any one factor potentially triggering or exacerbating another. For example, a student

facing personal challenges at home may find it difficult to cope with academic

pressure at school, increasing their likelihood of absenteeism. Conversely, a

supportive school environment can mitigate the negative impact of individual or

family challenges on students’ attendance.

By comprehensively studying these interconnected factors, this research aims

to identify the underlying causes of frequent absenteeism among senior high school

students in BRDHS and develop effective interventions to promote regular school

attendance and improve student success.

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Frequent Absenteeism Underlying Factors

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

The research strategy that the researchers are going to use is covered in

detail in this chapter. The research design, sources of data, description of research

instruments, data collections procedures and data analysis procedures.

Design of the Study