Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40660967›Full record

ArticleChild: care, health and development2025

Understanding School Presenteeism and Absence in Adolescents Affected by Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Qualitative Study.

Beau Sherwood, Lisa Roberts, Rhiannon Joslin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Child: care, health and development, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Beau SherwoodSchool of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Lisa RobertsSchool of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2662-6696
Rhiannon JoslinSchool of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3712-3341

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesAbsenteeism among adolescents experiencing chronic pain is a critical issue, and factors influencing absence have been identified as an evidence gap. Existing research overlooks aspects beyond attendance, such as presenteeism, reflecting adolescents' school functioning before becoming absent. This novel qualitative study sought to identify the influencing factors on presenteeism and absence from school in adolescents (11-18 years) experiencing chronic pain, through exploration of adolescent and parent perspectives.

methodsThis study conducted a secondary analysis of qualitative data using semi-structured interviews and a timeline drawing from 21 adolescents treated for chronic musculoskeletal pain and 21 parents. Data regarding school experiences were extracted and analysed using the six stages of thematic analysis, identified by Braun and Clarke. Initial codes were identified manually, discussed and validated by all authors in a face-to-face meeting.

resultsThematic analysis of the data identified three themes: (1) understanding the unseen struggle, (2) the feeling of belonging and (3) navigating transitions.

conclusionA key finding was the importance of adolescents feeling understood and supported by their peers and teachers throughout their education. Receiving validation of their symptoms, despite the invisible nature of chronic pain, affirmed a sense of security at school, contributed to a more positive school experience and improved adolescents' reported attendance. This has important practice implications in healthcare and education, in validating the adolescents' struggle, fostering a sense of belonging through shared goal setting and advocating for their voices to be heard.

Indexed as

AbsenteeismChronic PainMusculoskeletal PainPresenteeismAdolescentChildFemaleHumansMaleParentsQualitative ResearchSchoolsadolescentchronic painmusculoskeletal painparentpresenteeismqualitative absenceschool

Identifiers

PMID40660967
PMCPMC12261047

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.