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Abstract
Although truancy has been studied extensively, less attention has been given to the actual voices of the truants themselves. The current study helps fill that gap by examining recollections from a sample of 34 emerging adults (ages 18-25) who experienced various levels of high school truancy across different geographical settings. A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews was used to explore how former truants spent their time while being truant. The findings highlight factors in the contexts of the individual, home, and school that can impact the decision to be truant from school.
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Author Biography
Patricia Dahl is an assistant professor in criminal justice at Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas. Her research interests involving juveniles include juvenile justice, juvenile delinquency, status offenses (particularly truancy), adolescence, and emerging adulthood.
