Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T07:18:11.515Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Psychological problems of early school leavers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Deborah James  and
Maria Lawlor
Deborah James
Affiliation:
Regional Child and Family Centre, Dublin Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, Ireland
Maria Lawlor
Affiliation:
Regional Child and Family Centre, Dublin Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, Ireland
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives: To establish the prevalence of psychological problems in early school leavers, who attend training schemes.

Method: The Youth self report inventory was completed by teenagers as part of a group setting. Percentages of those scoring above clinical threshold were calculated and gender differences examined.

Results: 78 teenagers participated in the study, 40 males and 38 females. 24% were classified as being in the clinical range of total problem score. Girls reported more total, internalising and externalising problems than boys. 13% of girls frequently thought of suicide and 7% had frequent thoughts of self harm, this contrasts with none of the boys admitting suicidal ideation and 2.5% reporting thoughts of self harm.

Conclusions: 24% of this group experienced problems which placed them within the clinical range. Girls experienced greater problems than boys and appear to be at greater risk of self harm. This group appear to be representative of those who attend training programmes, however it is not possible to determine whether they are representative of all early school leavers. This highlights the vulnerability of older adolescents, and in particular those who leave school early. More detailed examination of issues facing this group are needed and should be a priority along with greater service provision from the educational and health sectors.

Keywords

AdolescentsEarly school leaversPrevalence of psychological problems
Type
Original Papers
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , June 2001 , pp. 61 - 65
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Youth Reach: an overview: development and future trends, 1995.Google Scholar
2.Rumberger, R. High school dropouts. A review of issues and evidence. Review of Educational Research 1987; 57: 101–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Maclean, DA. Dropping out of school: Patterns of early school leaving and responsive preventative measures. Unpublished Masters thesis. University of Alberta, 1993.Google Scholar
4.MacLean, DA, Janzen, HL. A framework for keeping students in school. Canadian J School Psychol 1994; 10(1): 54–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Spain, WH, Sharp, DB. the early school leavers: Initial survey report. Youth transition into the labour market, 1990 ED 349527Google Scholar
6.FAS Youth Reach annual report, 1990. Dublin: FASGoogle Scholar
7.Poole, ME. Identifying early school leaving. Aus J Education 1978; 22: 1.Google Scholar
8.Blum, ME, Spangehl, SE. Developing education programmes for the high risk secondary school and college dropouts. 1980 ERIC/CUE Urban diversity series No 80.Google Scholar
9.D'Alonzo, BJ. Educating adolescents with learning and behavioural difficulties. 1983, Rockville; Maryland: Aspen systems corporation.Google Scholar
10.Stevens, R, Pihl, RO. The identification of the student at risk of failure. J Clinical Psychology 1982; 38, 3.Google Scholar
11.Jones, B. Sleepers wake! Technology and the future of work. Brighton; Sussex: wheatsheave.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Lamb, S. Dropping out of school in Australia. Youth Society 1994; 26(2): 194–222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Sameroff, AJ, Seiffer, R. Familial risk and child competence. Child Development 1983; 54.Google Scholar
14.Cauce, AM, Filner, RD, Primavera, J. Social support in high risk adolescents: Structural components and adaptive impact. Am J Comm Psychol 1982; 10: 4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Martin, DL. Identifying potential dropouts: a research report. Kentucky state Department of Education, 1981.Google Scholar
16.McCoy, S, Hannon, DF. Early school leavers: reform of the junior certificate. ERSI working paper 67, 1995.Google Scholar
17.Hyndman, MJ, Evans, GT. social and life skills competence in potential early school leavers. Br J Guidance Counselling 1989; 17, 3, 286–303.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18.Patterson, LJ. Long term unemployment among adolescents: a longitudinal study. J Adolescence 1997; 20(3): 261–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19.Leslie, S. A. Psychiatric Disorder in the young adolescents of an industrial town. Br J Psychiat 1974; 125: 113–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.Rutter, M, Tizard, J, Yule, W, Graham, P, Whitmore, . Isle of Wight Studies 1964–1974. Psychol Med 1976; 6:313–332CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21.Offord, DRet al. Ontario Child Health Study: II Six month prevalence of disorder and rates of service urilisation Arch Gen Psychiatry 1987; 44: 832–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22.Bird, HRet al. Estimates of the prevalence of childhood maladjustment in a community survey in Puerto Rico Arch Gen Psychiat 1988; 45: 1120–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23.McGee, R, Feehan, M, Williams, S, Partridge, F, Silva, PA, Kelly, JJ. Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiat 1990; 29:4. JulyCrossRefGoogle Scholar
24.Verhulst, FC, Koot, HM. Child Psychiatric Epidemiology Concepts, Methods and Findings. Volume 23. Devel Clin Psychol Psychiat 1992; Ch 5 p 117–120, Sage Publications, London.Google Scholar
25.Lawlor, M, James, D. Prevalence of Psychological problems in Irish school going adolescents Ir J Psych Med 2000; 17(4): 117–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
26.Williams, H, Fitzgerald, M, Kinsella, A. Psychological Distress Attitude to Authority in a Sample of Irish Adolescents. Ir J Psych Med 1989; 6: 37–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27.Cohen, P, Velez, M, Kohn, P, Schwab-Stone, M, Johnson, J. Child psychiatric diagnosis by computer algorithm: theoretical issues and empirical tests. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiat 1987; 26: 631–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28.Achenbach, TM. Manual for the Child Behaviour Checklist/2-18 and 1991 profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Dept of Psychiatry (1991a)Google Scholar
29.Houlihan, B, Fitzgerald, M, O'Regan, M. Self esteem, depression and hostility in Irish Adolescents. J Adolescence 1994; 17: 565–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
30.Reynolds, WM. A school based procedure for the identification of adolescents at risk for suicidal behaviours. Fam Comm Health 1991a; 14(3), 64–75.Google Scholar
31.Kelleher, M, Corcoran, P, Keely, HS.. Variation in suicide rates between different Health Board areas. IMJ 1995; 90: 72–4.Google Scholar
32.Place, M. The relative value of screening instruments in adolescence. J Adolescence 1987; 10: 227–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
33.Morgan, CJ, Cauce, AM. Predicting DSMIIIR disorders from YSR. Analysis of data from a field study. J Am Acad Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1999; 38(10): 1237–45.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed