Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Dr. Carolyn Mcallister

Abstract

This proposed study would examine how diabetes and depressive symptoms influence school attendance among students ages 10 to 17 in one school district. Students with diabetes who experience higher levels of depressive symptoms might be at increased risk for chronic absenteeism, which could negatively affect both academic performance and emotional well-being. Despite growing awareness of pediatric diabetes and school-based mental health needs, gaps would remain in understanding how diabetes self-management relates to depression and attendance outcomes. This proposed quantitative comparative study would include students with and without diabetes. Participants would complete standardized measures assessing diabetes self-management and depressive symptoms, and official school attendance records would be used to measure absenteeism. Data would be analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent samples t-tests to examine group differences and relationships among variables. Findings would benefit social work practice by identifying the need for integrated school-based interventions that support both chronic illness management and students’ mental health to improve attendance outcomes.

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