Abstract
Truancy remains a significant challenge in schools today. Somali high school students’ truancy is specifically more prevalent. There is limited research on cultural factors that correlate with absenteeism within this population, and this quantitative study examined these factors. Acculturation, student employment, religious commitment, and perceived discrimination were the four key factors examined to inform the study. The sampled population were 16 high school students in grades 9 to 12 from two high schools within the Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minnesota. The student participants completed the Stephenson Multigroup Acculturation Scale (SMAS), Child Perceived Discrimination Questionnaire (CPDQ), and researchers’ constructed surveys on religious commitment and student employment. Correlation analysis did not show statistically significant relationships between the four factors examined and truancy. This was contrary to the study’s hypothesis. The hypothesis that acculturation was inversely correlated with truancy was refuted because it showed small to moderate positive associations with truancy. The hypothesis that perception of discrimination was directly correlated with truancy was refuted as it showed small to moderate negative association. Student employment and religious commitment were not directly correlated with truancy, and results showed mixed but nonsignificant correlations. Findings suggest that truancy in the sampled population may be attributed to more complex interactions of variables. These findings provide additional information to help reduce the gap of information on truancy among Somali students. Implications for school-family communication, early identification systems, and culturally responsive interventions are discussed.
Advisor
Jason Kaufman
Committee Member
David Kimori
Committee Member
Adam Abdisalam
Date of Degree
2026
Language
english
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Program of Study
Educational Leadership
Department
Educational Leadership
College
Education
Recommended Citation
Abdi, A. (2026). Correlates of truancy among Somali high school students in Minnesota [Doctoral dissertation, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/1591/
Rights Statement
