Peer-led intervention campaign against school bullying: who considered it useful, who benefited? (Updated)
This digest found in
GenderInclusion
Authors
Salmivalli, Christina. Department of Psychology, University of Turku, FinlandPublisher
Educational Research, 43(3), Winter 2001, pp263-278Introduction
How effective was a peer-led anti-bullying campaign in changing attitudes and actions?
Students at an upper-level comprehensive school (ages 13-15) in Southern Finland set out to try and reduce bullying in their school. This study examined the effectiveness of this peer-led intervention program which targeted the whole peer group in an effort to involve all students in creating and fostering anti-bullying attitudes and behaviours. The study found that the intervention was most effective amongst girls. It made them feel more confident so that they were able to influence bullies and increased their willingness to influence bullying problems in class. The attitudes of boys were somewhat more negative, though the study suggested that this may be because all the peer counsellors were girls, and boys were reluctant to get involved. The study indicated that bullies and those with pro-bullying attitudes were the most difficult to influence. It investigated whether bystanders could exert peer pressure to counter bullying.
Keywords
Finland; Bullying; Inclusion; Gender; Girls; Boys; Attitudes; Behaviour; Self-esteem; Peer counselling; Secondary schools; Pupil voice; Pupil participation
