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Missing Care, Missing Class: Analyzing the Overlooked Relationship between Unmet Healthcare Needs and Absenteeism

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Title: Missing Care, Missing Class: Analyzing the Overlooked Relationship between Unmet Healthcare Needs and Absenteeism
Language: English
Authors: Wendy Castillo (ORCID 0009-0004-5278-2400), Jeremy Singer
Source: Journal of School Health. 2026 96(1).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 9
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Health Needs, Access to Health Care, Attendance, At Risk Students, Individual Characteristics, Barriers
DOI: 10.1111/josh.70082
ISSN: 0022-4391
1746-1561
Abstract: Background: Health-related issues are perhaps the most common reason for student absences, as nearly every student has missed school due to an illness or injury at some point. Researchers in medicine and education have thoroughly documented the relationship between health and attendance. Methods: Descriptive trends are analyzed. Ordinary Least Squares regression is applied to the data in the National Survey of Children's Health. Our variable of interest was "my child needed care and did not receive it," and our dependent variable was the "number of days missed due to illness or injury." Results: Students who needed healthcare and did not receive it were significantly more likely to miss school due to illness or injury, even after accounting for insurance status, chronic illness, and demographic factors. The most commonly missed types of care were dental, medical, and mental health services. Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity: These results suggest that improving access to timely healthcare, particularly through school and community initiatives, is an important strategy for reducing chronic absenteeism. Conclusions: The relationship found in this study remained stable over time even as overall health-related absences have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings underscore that barriers to care, especially appointment availability and logistical constraints, are not just healthcare system issues but educational ones as well.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1492057
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Missing Care, Missing Class: Analyzing the Overlooked Relationship between Unmet Healthcare Needs and Absenteeism
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+Needs%22">Health Needs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Health+Care%22">Access to Health Care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attendance%22">Attendance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22At+Risk+Students%22">At Risk Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Individual+Characteristics%22">Individual Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1111/josh.70082
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  Data: Background: Health-related issues are perhaps the most common reason for student absences, as nearly every student has missed school due to an illness or injury at some point. Researchers in medicine and education have thoroughly documented the relationship between health and attendance. Methods: Descriptive trends are analyzed. Ordinary Least Squares regression is applied to the data in the National Survey of Children's Health. Our variable of interest was "my child needed care and did not receive it," and our dependent variable was the "number of days missed due to illness or injury." Results: Students who needed healthcare and did not receive it were significantly more likely to miss school due to illness or injury, even after accounting for insurance status, chronic illness, and demographic factors. The most commonly missed types of care were dental, medical, and mental health services. Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity: These results suggest that improving access to timely healthcare, particularly through school and community initiatives, is an important strategy for reducing chronic absenteeism. Conclusions: The relationship found in this study remained stable over time even as overall health-related absences have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings underscore that barriers to care, especially appointment availability and logistical constraints, are not just healthcare system issues but educational ones as well.
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      – SubjectFull: Access to Health Care
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      – SubjectFull: Attendance
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