A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATION OF HOW TRAUMA AND CHRONIC ILLNESS IMPACT ON SCHOOLING. IDENTITY AND SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY

Abstract

School connectedness and retention is an established key to both immediate and long-term health, academic and life outcomes. Young people with chronic illness or accident trauma often miss schooling and get caught in a spiral of catching up and disconnection from important peer relationships and from school. This study investigates the experiences and perspectives of young people whose schooling is disrupted by illness and trauma. It will produce guidelines for better practice by health and schooling professionals and parents of such children, and provide better knowledge about the processes by which disconnection occurs.