”Det handlar inte om att eleven inte kan” : En kvalitativ intervjustudie om skolkuratorers arbete med problematisk skolfrånvaro i högstadiet, med fokus på interventioner och bidragande faktorer

Sammanfattning

The aim of this study is to investigate what middle school counselors perceive as contributing factors to students developing problematic school absenteeism. We also sought to identify the interventions used by school counselors in their efforts to promote school attendance. The study employs a qualitative methodological approach, and data collection was conducted using semi-structured interviews. The interviews were conducted with seven school counselors, all of whom work at lower secondary schools in Sweden, one of whom works at a resource school. The empirical data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results show that students are influenced by external and internal factors that contribute to the development of problematic school absenteeism. Individual factors such as neuropsychological disorders (NPF) and mental health issues recur among several respondents. Furthermore, the high performance demands prevalent in society today, and comparisons on social media, are identified as potentially contributing negatively to problematic absenteeism. Relationship-based work emerges as a central component of effective practice. The study’s conclusions highlight the importance of collaboration to establish effective support for the individual. Early and preventive interventions remain essential. Several respondents describe absenteeism as increasing in today’s society, which respondents associate with broader societal changes. Finally, it emerged that mentors and teachers are considered to play the most significant role in counteracting problematic school absenteeism, as they are the ones who interact with the student most frequently through their daily work.