title: Bullying victimization: A risk factor of health problems among adolescents with hearing impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find bullying victimisation as a predictor of physical and psychological health problems among school-going children with hearing impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The co-relational cross-sectional study was conducted in Gujrat district of Pakistan's Punjab province from August 2014 to January 2015, and comprised adolescents with hearing impairment. The subjects were selected through multi-stage stratified proportionate sampling from the local schools. Two standardised instruments were administered to assess the relationship between bullying and health problems. Multidimensional Peer Victimisation Scale was used for measuring bullying behaviour, while the Health Questionnaire was used to assess physical and psychological health problems. Both scales were translated into Urdu using lexicon equivalence method of translation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 286 subjects, 183(64%) were boys. A significant positive relationship was found between the four components of bullying and health problems (p<0.05 each). Boys experienced more physical victimisation than girls (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference between girls and boys in social manipulation (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with hearing impairment experienced bullying just like those without such an impairment. Bullying needs to be considered a significant public health issue and should be dealt with effectively.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of Gujrat, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Bushra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Akram
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, University of Gujrat, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Asima
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Munawar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D058445:Bullying / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D010154:Pakistan; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Hearing Impairment, Bullying, Victimisation, Physical and psychological health problems.