title: Verbal Bullying Changes Among Students Following an Educational Intervention Using the Integrated Model for Behavior Change.
abstract: Bullying behavior in schools can lead to psychosocial problems. School-based interventions are important in raising student awareness, developing their skills and in planning to reduce bullying behavior.
  
  
  
  A randomized controlled trial, using a school-based educational intervention to reduce verbal bullying, was conducted among grade 10 students in 16 urban and rural schools in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in 2013. Baseline and postintervention questionnaires, developed using the Integrated Model for Behavior Change theoretical model, were used to assess changes in verbal bullying.
  
  
  
  Postintervention there were reduced verbal bullying experiences. Improved social norms and awareness of verbal bullying were associated with reduced verbal bullying experiences and behavior. Although less likely to bully others verbally, girls were more likely to experience verbal bullying. Students with no living father were more likely to bully others verbally.
  
  
  
  The study findings indicate that a school-based intervention can positively impact on verbal bullying experiences and behavior.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2nd Floor, Room 236, George Campbell Building, Howard College, Durban 4041, South Africa. naidoos71@ukzn.ac.za.
authors.forename: Saloshni
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naidoo
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2nd Floor, Room 236, George Campbell Building, Howard College, Durban 4041, South Africa. sartorius@ukzn.ac.za.
authors.forename: Benn K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Satorius
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, POB 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, the Netherlands. hein.devries@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors.forename: Hein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2nd Floor, Room 236, George Campbell Building, Howard College, Durban 4041, South Africa. taylor@ukzn.ac.za.
authors.forename: Myra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001364:Awareness; D058445:Bullying / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*; D066262:Social Norms; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Integrated Model for Behavior Change; bullying; school health instruction; verbal bullying