
Poverty increases absenteeism in children
Research by think tank Kraka reveals significant social issues among children raised in poverty. These children often face high absenteeism and live with parents who suffer from mental illness. Compared to their peers, the likelihood of high absenteeism is four times greater for impoverished children, flagged when a student has over 15% unexcused absences in a quarter. Children from low-income families are also twice as likely to have parents with psychiatric diagnoses, with 26% of such children affected. Additionally, reports concerning the children’s well-being (underretninger) are three times more frequent, and 5% of these children have a parent with a criminal conviction, which is fivefold compared to other children. Kraka’s study aligns with the national statistics bureau’s relative poverty definition, considering families living below 50% of median income with low wealth. This research is part of a three-year project on child poverty, funded by Dreyers Fond since 2020.