The effectiveness of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in public middle schools: a controlled trial.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE:
To examine the effectiveness of a widely disseminated bullying prevention program.

METHODS:
A nonrandomized controlled trial with 10 public middle schools (7 intervention and 3 control) was conducted. Student-reported relational (e.g., spreading rumors, social exclusion) and physical victimization, and whether the program improved student attitudes and perceptions toward bullying were assessed pre- and post-implementation using available school survey data.

RESULTS:
Regression analyses controlling for baseline prevalence and school characteristics showed no overall effect on student victimization. However, when stratified by ethnicity/race, reports of relational and physical victimization decreased by 28% (RR = .72, 95%

CI:
.53-.98) and 37% (RR = .63, 95%

CI:
.42-.97), respectively, among white students relative to those in comparison schools. No similar effect was found for students of other races/ethnicities; there were no differences by gender or by grade. Students in intervention schools were more likely to perceive other students as actively intervening in bullying incidents, and 6th graders were more likely to feel sorry and want to help victims.

CONCLUSIONS:
The program had some mixed positive effects varying by gender, ethnicity/race, and grade but no overall effect. Schools implementing the program, especially with a heterogeneous student body, should monitor outcomes and pay particular attention to the impact of culture, race and family influences on student behavior. Future studies of large-scale bullying prevention programs in the community must be rigorously evaluated to ensure they are effective.

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Author information

Author/s: Bauer, Nerissa S (NS); Lozano, Paula (P); Rivara, Frederick P (FP);

Affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Health Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. nsbauer(-atsign-)iupui.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Controlled Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine (J Adolesc Health), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Mar; vol 40 (issue 3) : pp 266-74

Dates: Created 2007/02/26; Completed 2007/04/20; Revised 2007/12/05;

PMID: 17321428, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior
Aggression
Child
Crime Victims
Ethnic Groups
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

Humans
Male
Multivariate Analysis
Program Evaluation
School Health Services
Students
Violence - prevention & control
Washington

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