Positive affect as a protective factor of school refusal behavior

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between positive affectivity and school refusal based on four explanatory factors: I. Avoidance of Negative Affectivity, II. Escape from aversive Social/Evaluative situations, III. Pursuit from Attention and IV. Pursuit of Tangible Reinforcement. 1078 Spanish students participated from 3rd to 6th of Primary Education (M = 9.63; SD = 1.12) who completed the 10-Item Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children and the School Refusal Assessment Scale-Revised. Positive affectivity predicted negative and significantly higher scores of school refusal for the first two factors, while in a positive and significantly way for the third and fourth factor. The role of positive affectivity as a protective factor of school refusal is discussed.