There are many reasons why anxiety takes hold of a person or specifically a student who refuses to attend school because of it. Starting school, moving, and many other stressful life events may trigger school refusal. Some other reasons include the student’s fear that something will happen to a parent while he or she is in school. Sometimes the fear can be that the student will not do well in school or the student may fear other students whether the fear is real or not. There is a deeper problem of anxiety-based school refusal that affects between 2 to 5 percent of school-age students. According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, it usually occurs between ages 5 and 6 and between 10 and 11, and at times of transition, such as entering middle and high school.

Often students who suffer from anxiety related to school refusal will have average or above-average intelligence. These students may develop serious educational or social problems if their fears keep them from school and friends for any length of time.