title: A large-scale evaluation of the KiVa antibullying program: grades 4-6.
abstract: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the KiVa antibullying program using a large sample of 8,237 youth from Grades 4-6 (10-12 years). Altogether, 78 schools were randomly assigned to intervention (39 schools, 4,207 students) and control conditions (39 schools, 4,030 students). Multilevel regression analyses revealed that after 9 months of implementation, the intervention had consistent beneficial effects on 7 of the 11 dependent variables, including self- and peer-reported victimization and self-reported bullying. The results indicate that the KiVa program is effective in reducing school bullying and victimization in Grades 4-6. Despite some evidence against school-based interventions, the results suggest that well-conceived school-based programs can reduce victimization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turun yliopisto, Finland. ankarna@utu.fi
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kärnä
authors.forename: Marinus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Voeten
authors.forename: Todd D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poskiparta
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaljonen
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salmivalli
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001364:Awareness; D058445:Bullying / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D003479:Curriculum; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006126:Group Processes; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012381:Role Playing; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012919:Social Behavior; D012932:Social Facilitation; D012944:Social Support; D018910:Video Games