Original Paper Psychosocial Factors Influencing Truancy in High Risk Secondary Schools in Kuala Lumpur

This study aimed to determine the psychosocial factors associated with school truancy in secondary school students attending three high risk schools in Kuala Lumpur. It is a cross-sectional study involving 373 Form Four students. Socio demographic, family, living and school characteristics of the respondents were obtained through self-administered questionnaires. There were significantly greater percentage of divorced parents (p=0.025, OR=2.52, 1.01<OR<6.20) and fewer number of bedrooms in the living places of truant (mean=2, SD=0.696) group than among non-truants (mean=3, SD=0.818, p=0.01). Also, greater proportion of those who disliked school (OR=2.52, 1.01<OR<6.20), aimed for lower education goals (OR=2.03, 1.18<OR<3.49) and uncertain of the reason for schooling (OR=3.14, 1.47<OR<6.67) were noted among truants compared with non-truants. The findings support that truancy is a behavior that is affected by multiple intrinsic and external factors. Identification of these factors is useful in strategizing measures at school and community level to curb truancy.