Truancy in upper secondary education is a widespread problem, which contributes significantly to school dropout risk. However, the underlying mechanisms of truancy have remained unstudied. This longitudinal study of 1853 Finnish students examined how initial levels and changes in student engagement from primary (Grade 6) to lower secondary school (Grades 7 and 9) predicted truancy in upper secondary education, and whether cynicism (losing interest in school) mediated the relationship between engagement and truancy. Growth curve models showed that high engagement levels in primary school and increases in engagement over time predicted less truancy in upper secondary education. Cynicism mediated the effects of student engagement on truancy: high initial levels and increases in student engagement predicted less cynicism, which was related to less truancy. The findings underscored the importance of student engagement (both directly and indirectly through cynicism) in reducing truancy, and such associations can carry over two critical school transitions.

高中阶段的逃学率是一个普遍存在的问题，极大地增加了辍学的风险。但是，逃学的潜在机制仍未研究。这项对1853名芬兰学生的纵向研究调查了从小学（6年级）到初中（7和9年级）的初始水平和学生敬业度的变化如何预测高中阶段的逃学，以及犬儒主义（对学校的兴趣消退）是否介导了这一现象。参与和逃学之间的关系。增长曲线模型表明，小学的高参与度和随着时间的推移参与度的增加预测了高中阶段的逃学率较低。犬儒主义介导了学生敬业度对逃学的影响：较高的初始水平和学生参与度的提高预示了犬儒主义的减少，这与逃学减少有关。研究结果强调了学生参与（直接和间接地通过犬儒主义）在减少逃学中的重要性，并且这种协会可以进行两次关键的学校过渡。