The association between childhood hearing loss and self-reported peer victimisation, depressive

Butcher et al. BMC Public Health (2022) 22:1045

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13457-6

RESEARCH

The association between childhood hearing

loss and self-reported peer victimisation,

depressive symptoms, and self-harm:

longitudinal analyses of a prospective,

nationally representative cohort study

Emma Butcher1*, Mario Cortina‑Borja1

, Carol Dezateux1,2 and Rachel Knowles1

Abstract

Background: Childhood hearing loss (HL) predicts poor mental health and is associated with a higher risk of com‑

munication difculties. The relationship of childhood HL with specifc types of poor mental health (such as depressive

symptoms or self-harm) and peer victimisation remains unclear.

Methods: We analysed data from the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), a prospective observational cohort study of

children living in the UK at age 9months and born between 2000 to 2002. Data were available on the children and

their families at ages 9months, then at 3, 5, 7, 11, and 14 years.

Participants were 10,858 singleton children with self-reported data on peer victimisation, depressive symptoms, and

self-harm at age 14 years. Multivariable logistic regression models were ftted to estimate odds ratios (OR) for HL with

peer victimisation, depressive symptoms, and self-harm. HL presence was examined in terms of any HL between ages

9months and 14 years, as well as by HL trajectory type (defned by onset and persistence). Analyses were adjusted for

potential sources of confounding, survey design, and attrition at age 14 years. Interactions between sex and HL were

examined in each model and multiple imputation procedures used to address missing data.

Results: Children with any HL had increased odds of depressive symptoms (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.09–1.60), self-harm

(1.41, 1.12–1.78) and, in girls only, peer victimisation (girls: 1.81, 1.29–2.55; boys: 1.05, 0.73–1.51), compared to those

without HL. HL with later age at onset and persistence to age 14 years was the only trajectory associated with all

outcomes.

Conclusions: Childhood HL may predict peer victimisation (in girls), depressive symptoms, and self-harm. Further

research is needed to identify HL trajectories and methods to facilitate good mental health in children with HL.

Keywords: Child, Depressive symptoms, Cohort studies, Mental health, Hearing loss, Self-harm, Peer victimisation

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Introduction

Hearing loss (HL) in childhood is associated with poor

mental health [1, 2]. Tis may be due to a higher risk of

language and communication difculties [3], peer vic￾timisation or bullying, where bullying is a specifc form

of victimisation in which there is an imbalance of power

Open Access

*Correspondence: emma.butcher.15@alumni.ucl.ac.uk

1

Population, Policy and Practice Research and Teaching Department, UCL

Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK

Full list of author information is available at the end of the article