Characteristics of those who refuse to attend school in Fukuoka City: an analysis based on teachers' reports.

In 1988, we investigated the characteristics of children who refused to attend elementary and junior high schools in Fukuoka City, mainly from the viewpoint of their present status. The main results were as follows: Prevalence of school refusers in elementary schools (0.13%) was much higher in Fukuoka City than in all Japan, but almost similar in junior high schools (0.47%). About one-third of the school refusers didn't mind their absence so much, and more school refusers in junior high schools could not understand the significance of school attendance. These results suggest that school refusers, who may have a borderline personality organization, are likely to prevail.