Changing the social contexts of peer victimization.
BACKGROUND
While school-based prevention programs often target deficits in individual children's social skills in order to limit their aggression or exposure to peer victimization, there is increasing evidence that school-wide and classroom-level factors can affect the success of these programs.


METHODS
We describe the WITS Primary Program which takes a community development approach for the prevention of victimization. It was designed for kindergarten to grade 3 students, and aims to create responsive communities for the prevention of peer victimization by engaging the support of parents, teachers, school counselors, older student, and emergency services personnel.


RESULTS
Evidence supporting the program's feasibility and effectiveness are reported.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevention of peer victimization and bullying may require targeted programs with demonstrated support from many adults in young children's social networks.
Leadbeater
Bonnie
B
Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia. bleadbea@uvic.ca
Hoglund
Wendy
W