While there is strong evidence linking bullying, absenteeism and poor achievement, the causal relationships between these phenomena are poorly understood. For example, it is plausible that being bullied increases the likelihood that children will be truant, with negative consequences for their learning. But it is equally plausible that children who achieve poorly are sometimes bullied for being ‘dumb’, leading to the avoidance of school. (A complication is that both high- and low-achieving students are at greater than average risk of being bullied.)
