title: Bullying prevention in schools by targeting cognitions, emotions, and behavior: Evaluating the effectiveness of the REBE-ViSC program.
abstract: The effectiveness of a class-based antibullying prevention program on cognitions, emotions, and behaviors was investigated. The program consists of a cognitive-behavioral (Rational Emotive Behavioral Education; REBE) and a behavioral (Viennese Social Competence; ViSC) component. The REBE program is based on rational emotive behavioral theory and contains 9 student lessons. The ViSC program is based on social learning theory and comprises 10 student lessons. The order of the programs was experimentally manipulated. The REBE-ViSC program was implemented in 5 schools (14 classes), the ViSC-REBE program was implemented in 3 schools (9 classes), and 3 schools (11 classes) served as an untreated control group. Data were collected during 1 school year at pretest, midpoint, and posttest. Emotions (overt and internalizing anger), cognitions (learning and entitlement), and behaviors (bullying perpetration and bullying victimization) were measured with self-assessments. To examine the effectiveness of the REBE-ViSC/ViSC-REBE program, multilevel growth models were applied (time points at Level 1, individuals at Level 2, and classes at Level 3). The analyses revealed that the program effects differed depending on the order of the programs. The REBE-ViSC condition was more effective in changing negative emotions than the ViSC-REBE condition; both experimental conditions were effective in reducing dysfunctional cognitions, whereas no behavioral change was found in the 2 experimental groups when compared with the control group. To improve program effectiveness regarding behavioral changes, a multilevel whole-school approach including a teacher component is recommended.
authors.affiliation: University of Oradea.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trip
authors.affiliation: University of Oradea.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bora
authors.affiliation: University of Oradea.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sipos-Gug
authors.affiliation: University of Oradea.
authors.forename: Ioana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tocai
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gradinger
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria.
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanagida
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria.
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Strohmeier
mesh_terms: D058445:Bullying / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012574:Schools; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology