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A pilot evaluation of the social validity of a bullying bystander program adapted for high school students
Author(s) -
Doumas Diana M.,
Midgett Aida,
Watts April D.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
psychology in the schools
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1520-6807
pISSN - 0033-3085
DOI - 10.1002/pits.22249
Subject(s) - psychology , intervention (counseling) , bystander effect , clinical psychology , medical education , applied psychology , developmental psychology , social psychology , medicine , psychiatry
Although school‐based programs are effective at decreasing bullying, the majority of studies have been conducted with elementary and middle school students. We conducted a pilot study using a randomized controlled design investigating the social validity of a brief, bullying bystander program adapted to be age‐appropriate for high school students ( N = 65). Results indicated that high school students in the intervention group perceived the program to be acceptable and relevant and reported greater increases in knowledge ( η p 2 = 0.27) and confidence to intervene ( η p 2 = 0.27) in bullying situations compared to students in the control group. Despite being trained in the use of four intervention strategies, students reported using two of the strategies infrequently. Additionally, we found a significant difference between the intervention and control group for only one strategy (Φ = −0.44). This study provides partial support for the social validity of the adapted program. Implications for implementing the program at the high school level are discussed.