Relationship between school absenteeism and depressive symptoms among adolescents with juvenile fibromyalgia.
OBJECTIVE
To describe school absences in adolescents with Juvenile Primary Fibromyalgia Syndrome (JPFS) and examine the relationship between school absenteeism, pain, psychiatric symptoms, and maternal pain history.


METHODS
Adolescents with JPFS (N = 102; mean age 14.96 years) completed measures of pain and depressive symptoms, and completed a psychiatric interview. Parents provided information about the adolescents' school absences, type of schooling, and parental pain history. School attendance reports were obtained directly from schools.


RESULTS
Over 12% of adolescents with JPFS were homeschooled. Those enrolled in regular school missed 2.9 days per month on average, with one-third of participants missing more than 3 days per month. Pain and maternal pain history were not related to school absenteeism. However, depressive symptoms were significantly associated with school absences.


CONCLUSIONS
Many adolescents with JPFS experience difficulties with regular school attendance. Long-term risks associated with school absenteeism and the importance of addressing psychological factors are discussed.
Kashikar-Zuck
Susmita
S
Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. susmita.kashikar-zuck@cchmc.org
Johnston
Megan
M
Ting
Tracy V
TV
Graham
Brent T
BT
Lynch-Jordan
Anne M
AM
Verkamp
Emily
E
Passo
Murray
M
Schikler
Kenneth N
KN
Hashkes
Philip J
PJ
Spalding
Steven
S
Banez
Gerard
G
Richards
Margaret M
MM
Powers
Scott W
SW
Arnold
Lesley M
LM
Lovell
Daniel
D
D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012574:Schools