Spijbelen onder scholieren: de rol van een zorgsituatie thuis

This paper investigates if having a chronically ill family member (being a young carer) has a unique effect on truancy in students. The data used come from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study gathered in 2013. The sample consists of students aged 12 to 16 years (n = 5,168). One in ten students reports being truant for at least one period during the last month. Besides truancy, we also studied the role of sociodemographic characteristics and perceived support. Students with and without a chronically ill family member differ in sex (more often female), family affluence (less affluent), family composition (more often incomplete families) and perceived support from their family (less support). After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and perceived support from family, friends and teachers, young carers do not play truant more often than non-carers, but are truant at a more intense level (more periods). Support from teachers and friends is related to playing truant, support at home is related to the intensity of truancy. Reinforcing support at school and at home seems to be of importance in reducing truancy in students, in particular for young carers.