Bullying linked to lower urinary tract symptoms in children

(HealthDay)—For 8- to 11-year-olds, bullying is associated with lower urinary tract symptoms, according to a study published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.

Christina B. Ching, M.D., from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., and colleagues examined the correlation between pediatric lower urinary tract symptoms and exposure to bullying among 8- to 11-year-olds. Exposure to school bullying was assessed via the Setting the Record Straight bullying questionnaire among children being assessed for lower urinary tract symptoms, using the Vancouver Symptom Score, at a pediatric urology clinic. Children presenting for pediatric well visits also completed the questionnaires. Data were included for 113 children at the urology clinic and 63 children in the primary care setting.

The researchers observed significant differences between the two populations, with more perpetrators of bullying in the primary care group (7.9 versus 0.9 percent; P = 0.02). Within the urology clinic group, Vancouver Symptom Score was significantly associated with self-perceived and peer-perceived victimization scores (both P < 0.001). A significant association was also seen between Vancouver Symptom Score and self-perceived (P = 0.01) and peer-perceived (P = 0.001) bullying perpetrator scores in the primary care group. Thirty-three percent of children seen at the primary care office had a significant Vancouver Symptom Score.

"Although bullying exposure is multifactorial, we found that Vancouver Symptom Score can be associated with bullying victimization and perpetrator scores," the authors write.