Determinants of University Students' Absenteeism: The Role of Financial, Parental and Institutional Factors

Financial issues, university environment, and parental issues have been investigated as factors influencing absenteeism among full?time undergraduate students in a local university in Selangor. An online survey was conducted among 350 students from a local university in Selangor. The survey respondents reported that most of them had absenteeism during their studies. The data collected was then analyzed and applied to a structural equation model (SEM) using Partial Least Squares, and the model consisted of a measurement and structural model. The finding revealed that parental issues do not significantly influence absenteeism among local university students. The results revealed that financial problems and elements of the university environment, like lecture quality, class participation, and support networks, significantly influenced absenteeism. In contrast, parental problems like family expectations, home conflicts, or guardians' pressure did not significantly influence students' attendance. This implies that even if students might experience pressure at home, these elements have less impact than their financial condition and the daily academic surroundings they negotiate. These findings emphasize the need to enhance financial support mechanisms and create a more interesting academic environment to lower absenteeism and support student retention.