Counteracting bullying in Finland: The KiVa program and its effects on different forms of being bullied
Document Type
Journal Article
Publisher
Sage
Faculty
Faculty of Computing, Health and Science
School
School of Exercise and Health Sciences
RAS ID
12331
Abstract
In 2006, the Finnish Ministry of Education mandated our research group to develop an antibullying program for comprehensive schools. The new program, KiVa, includes both universal and indicated actions to reduce bullying. The present study reports the effects of KiVa on nine different forms of being bullied in a sample of 5,651 fourth to sixth graders from 78 schools (39 intervention, 39 control). The findings showed positive effects on each form of being bullied assessed. After 9 months of intervention, control school students were 1.32– 1.94 times as likely to be bullied as students in intervention schools. A well-designed, research-based program can thus reduce multiple forms of being bullied, and there might be no need to develop specific programs for different forms of bullying.
DOI
10.1177/0165025411407457
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Salmivalli, C. , Karna, A., & Poskiparta, E. (2011). Counteracting bullying in Finland: The KiVa program and its effects on different forms of being bullied. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 35(5), 405-411. Available here