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. 2016 Jul;43(3):402-27.
doi: 10.1007/s11414-014-9435-6.

Differential Effects of Mental Health Problems Among Truant Youths

Richard Dembo  1 , Jennifer Wareham  2 , James Schmeidler  3 , Rhissa Briones-Robinson  4 , Ken C Winters  5
Affiliations

Differential Effects of Mental Health Problems Among Truant Youths

Richard Dembo et al. J Behav Health Serv Res. 2016 Jul.

Abstract

Research indicates at-risk youth are more likely to experience emotional and psychological problems. Young people who are often truant from school represent a group of at-risk youth, but one for which mental health issues are understudied. This study examined heterogeneity of mental health problems among a sample of 300 truant adolescents using latent class analysis (LCA). LCA indicated the sample of truants was best represented by four latent subgroups of youth with low mental health problems; high depression, low mania; high mania, low depression; and high depression and mania. These subgroups were examined in relation to sociodemographic and psychosocial measures at baseline and after truancy offenses. Results indicated general and unique differences in these covariates across the four latent classes. Service and practice implications of better understanding mental health issues of truant youth are discussed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Latent Profile Model with Covariates and a Distal Outcome
Note. C = latent class. All covariates (X1-X16) were measured as baseline. X1 = Age. X2 = Gender. X3 = Family income. X4 = Who youth lives with. X5 = African American. X6 = Hispanic. X7 = Family experience of stressful/traumatic events. X8 = Sexual risk behavior. X9 = Marijuana use. X10 = Youth alcohol/other drug problem. X11 = Youth receiving mental health, problem behavior treatment. X12 = Youth sent to live away from home. X13 = Parent reported alcohol use in past year. X14 = Youth arrest charges prior to project enrollment. X15 = Self-reported delinquency. X16 = Attitudes toward school.
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References

    1. Education Commission of the States [03 April 2013];State Notes—Attendance: Compulsory School Age Requirements. 2007 Available at: http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/64/07/6407.htm.
    1. National Center for School Engagement . Lessons Learned from Four Truancy Demonstration Sites. Author; Denver, CO: 2006.
    1. Dropout Nation [14 March 2012];America's Truancy Problem: L.A. County Example. 2010 Available at: http://dropoutnation.net/.
    1. Colorado Department of Education [05 December 2011];School by School Truancy Rates. School Year: 2010-2011. 2011 Available at: http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdereval/.
    1. Garry EM. Juvenile Justice Bulletin. Vol. 76. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention; Washington, DC: 2001. Truancy, first step in a lifetime of problems.

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