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Journal Article

Citation

Fekkes M, Pijpers FI, Verloove-Vanhorick SP. Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. 2006; 160(6): 638-644.

Affiliation

Youth Department, TNO Prevention and Health, Leiden, Geneeskundige en GezondheidsDienst Amsterdam, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, American Medical Association)

DOI

10.1001/archpedi.160.6.638

PMID

16754827

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of an antibullying school intervention in elementary schools. DESIGN: Two-year follow-up randomized intervention group-control group. SETTING: Forty-seven elementary schools in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand eight hundred sixteen children aged 9 to 12 years.Intervention During the first study year, an antibullying school program was implemented in the schools in the intervention group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A questionnaire measuring bullying behavior, depression, psychosomatic complaints, delinquent behavior, and satisfaction with school life and peer relationships was filled out by the students at 3 times to obtain the following data: a baseline measurement, a first-effect measurement at the end of the first year, and a second-effect measurement at the end of the second year. RESULTS: The number of bullied children decreased by 25% in the intervention group compared with the control group (relative risk, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.57-0.98). The intervention group also showed a decline in the scale scores of victimization (-1.06 vs 0.28; P<.01) and active bullying behaviors (-0.47 vs 0.12, P<.05). Self-reported peer relationships also improved in the intervention schools (0.48 vs 0.11; P<.05), and there was a trend for a decrease in reported depression in the intervention schools (-0.33 vs -0.10; P<.10). At follow-up, there were no differences between the intervention and control groups for the outcome measures. Schools had also lowered their antibullying activities during the second study year. CONCLUSIONS: An antibullying school policy can reduce bullying behavior. To keep bullying at a consistently low level, schools must continue antibullying measures every year. Continued counseling may help schools in their efforts to establish a lasting antibullying policy.



Language: en

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