Bullying in Orphanages: Psychological Consequences for Institutionalized Children in Pakistan

Abstract

Bullying in Pakistani orphanages is an underexplored issue with serious allegations for the physical and psychological well-being of institutionalized children. This study inspected the impact of bullying and institutionalization on the physical health of orphanage children in Pakistan, where inadequate supervision and resource restrictions increase vulnerability. A cross-sectional correlational design was employed with a purposive sample of 600 adolescents 341=boys and 259= girls, aged range between 10 to 19 years were recruited from different orphanages in Gujrat, Gujranwala and Lahore. Data were collected using the Illusion Bullying Scale Urdu version and results showing that buys were significantly more involved in fights as M = 11.07, SD = 4.92 and victimization M = 10.09, SD = 4.49 compared to girls M = 9.58, SD = 4.13 and M = 8.10, SD = 3.56. Age differences also specified that children aged 8–12 reported higher bullying scores as M = 38.98 and SD = 12.81 than older peers M = 35.45 and SD = 12.25. Weight of the children were also emerged as a significant factor F = 11.33 with underweight children 20–39 kg experiencing the highest bullying levels M = 39.35 and SD = 12.98. However, length of institutional stay did not significantly predict bullying behaviors among children. Findings also highlighted the urgent need for gender-sensitive psychological interventions, nutritional care for underweight children and caregiver training programs in trauma-informed practices. Addressing bullying behviors in orphanages is critical to improving child protection and well-being in Pakistan’s institutional care system.