Exploring the bidirectional relationship between school attendance problems and maternal mental health

Background Poor school attendance remains a high priority for schools post-COVID, persistent absence has almost doubled in the UK since the pandemic. Poor parental mental health is consistently associated with school attendance problems however, the direction of this relationship is unclear. The aim of this study is to examine, for the first time using longitudinal cohort data, if parental mental health declines prior to, or following, their child experiencing school attendance problems. Method Data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) prospective birth cohort was utilised. We examined associations between school attendance problems (separation anxiety and avoidance) and patterns of maternal depression using logistic regression models (n=6375). Results School avoidant behaviours (not going to school and trying to avoid school) were associated with high maternal depression that occurred only after the occurrence of the school avoidance behaviours but not before. For school separation anxiety, there was evidence for associations increased likelihood of high depression only before but also, only after reports of school anxiety. Both types of school attendance problems were associated with a higher likelihood that the mother had high levels of depression on the two occasions, consistent with reported links between chronic depression and child outcomes. Conclusions This study provides the first evidence that relationships between maternal mental health and school attendance are bidirectional. Indicating that more support is needed for families, particularly interventions that tailor support for both children and parents/carers. Addressing child factors in isolation may be a barrier to effective outcomes.