Child maltreatment among deaf and hard-of-hearing adolescent students: associations with depression and anxiety

Neglect of Children with Disabilities: A Scoping Review

Background: Children with disabilities face an increased risk of neglect and maltreatment due to their dependence on caregivers, social isolation, and challenges in seeking help. While extensive research has examined child abuse, neglect remains an underexplored yet pervasive issue affecting this vulnerable population. Objective: This scoping review synthesizes literature from the past decade to assess the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of neglect among children with disabilities, aiming to identify gaps in research and inform policy and intervention efforts. Methods: Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a systematic search was conducted across multiple electronic databases, including PsycNET, Social Services Abstracts, ERIC, PubMed, and EBSCO. Studies were included if they focused on neglect among children with disabilities and were published in English within the last ten years. Thematic analysis was employed to extract and categorize findings. Results: Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria, revealing a significantly higher prevalence of neglect among children with disabilities compared to their typically developing peers. The type and severity of disability influenced the likelihood and nature of neglect, with children with intellectual disabilities (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and sensory impairments facing particularly high risks. Key risk factors included parental stress, economic hardship, limited access to resources, and systemic failures in early identification and intervention. Despite the severity of neglect, evidence-based preventive strategies remain scarce, and existing child protection frameworks often fail to account for the unique needs of children with disabilities. Conclusions: The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, specialized training for professionals, and policy reforms to address the neglect of children with disabilities. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating culturally sensitive and disability-specific support systems to mitigate the long-term consequences of neglect.

Association between social inclusion and mental health among people with disabilities engaged in sports clubs: a cross-sectional survey

Objective

Participation in sports is known to promote social inclusion and mental health. However, barriers that limit the participation of people with disabilities in sports potentially exclude them from enjoying the social and mental health benefits. This study aimed to assess the level of social inclusion experienced by people with disabilities participating in sports clubs in Saudi Arabia, and to examine its relationship to specific mental health outcomes, namely, overall mental health, depression, and anxiety.

Methods

In this cross-sectional survey, people with disabilities were recruited from sports clubs in southern Saudi Arabia. Club presidents were contacted via email or social media messaging services to access their member lists and identify potential participants. The sample comprised 205 participants who met the inclusion criteria and provided informed consent (age 18-40 years, mean = 29.8 years, standard deviation = 3.82 years). Participants received an email with a link to a Google Form containing information about the study and the questionnaire, which included the Social Inclusion Questionnaire for People with Disabilities, Mental Health Continuum - Short Form, Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess the reliability of the study instruments. In addition to descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses (t-tests or one-way analysis of variance, as appropriate) were conducted to assess group differences. Pearson's correlation coefficient and hierarchical regression analysis were used to examine the association between social inclusion and mental health outcomes (controlling for age, gender, and type of disability in regression analysis).

Results

Slightly over half of the participants (53.65%) reported moderate to high social inclusion scores, while 46.34% had low inclusion scores. Social inclusion was positively correlated with overall mental health it was identified a significant predictor of mental health in the present sample.

Conclusion

Present findings suggest that, among people with disabilities who are engaged in sports clubs, social inclusion was associated with better overall mental health and lower incidence of anxiety and depression. These results suggest the potential for sports clubs to become facilities that prevent the exclusion of people with disabilities and to support their physical, mental, and social well-being.

Sexual violence victimisation among deaf adolescents: A multi-school-based cross-sectional study from Ghana

BACKGROUND

Deaf adolescents and other young people with sensory disabilities are at elevated risk of sexual violence victimisation. However, there is scant published evidence on the epidemiology of sexual violence victimisation among deaf adolescents from African countries, including Ghana.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the 12-month prevalence and associated factors of sexual violence victimisation among school-going deaf adolescents in Ghana.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional self-report survey involving a nationally representative sample of 422 school-going deaf adolescents. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the sociodemographic, personal-level, family-related, school-based, and interpersonal-level factors associated with sexual violence victimisation.

RESULTS

The 12-month prevalence estimate of sexual violence victimisation was 17.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 14.0-21.3%). Comparable estimates were found between females (16.6%; 95%CI = 11.3-23.0%) and males (17.9%; 95%CI = 13.6-23.0%). Deaf adolescents from polygynous families, those who did paid work, those having a single-parent caretaker, those whose primary caretakers were unemployed, and those in romantic relationships were at increased odds of sexual violence victimisation. Family-related factors such as parental divorce, and conflict with parents were also associated with increased odds of sexual violence victimisation. No (putative protective) factors were identified to be associated with reduced odds of sexual violence victimisation.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence estimates and associated factors of sexual violence victimisation among school-going deaf adolescents in the current study are comparable to what is known about in-school hearing adolescents in Ghana. The evidence highlights the need to strengthen preventive efforts against the offence in both deaf and hearing adolescents.

Physical and emotional abuse with internet addiction and anxiety as a mediator and physical activity as a moderator

This study aimed to explore the relationship between physical and emotional abuse (physical-emotional abuse) and Internet addiction in university students, as well as the mediating role of anxiety and the moderating role of physical activity. The data of physical-emotional abuse, anxiety and Internet addiction, and physical activity were measured by subjective questionnaire with convenience sampling in March 2024. A total of 1591 participants (806 males and 692 females) from Shanxi, Henan, Hunan and Hubei provinces in China were investigated. Subsequently, the relationships among the variables were explored using pearson correlation analysis. Finally, mediation and moderation models were assessed using the SPSS PROCESS macro plugin. After controlling for participants' gender, grade level, and place of residence, only-child status, the study findings revealed that physical-emotional abuse significantly and positively predicted internet addiction and anxiety among university students (β = 0.157, β = 0.271, p < 0.001). However, upon the inclusion of anxiety as a variable, the predictive effect of physical-emotional abuse on internet addiction among university students became non-significant (β = 0.035, p > 0.05). Anxiety was found to have a significant complete mediating effect between physical-emotional abuse and internet addiction among university students. Additionally, physical activity significantly and negatively predicted anxiety (β = -0.062, p < 0.05), and the interaction term between physical-emotional abuse and physical activity also significantly and negatively predicted anxiety (β = - 0.053, p < 0.05). Physical activity moderated the first half of the mediation pathway from "physical-emotional abuse to anxiety to internet addiction." Anxiety may be the internal mechanism of physical-emotional abuse affecting university students' Internet addiction, and physical activity plays a moderator role in the relationship between physical-emotional abuse and university students' Internet addiction. The study will provide new perspectives and strategies for the public health field to address physical-emotional abuse and Internet addiction among university students. It is also critical that future studies validate these findings on a large, multi-country basis.