Efficacy of a brief intervention on attitudes to reduce school violence: A randomized clinical trial

• Published in: Children and youth services review Vol. 35; no. 9; pp. 1313 - 1318
• Main Authors: Jiménez-Barbero, Jose Antonio, Ruiz-Hernández, Jose Antonio, Llor-Esteban, Bartolomé, Llor-Zaragoza, Laura, Pérez García, María
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2013
• Subjects: Adolescence; Aggression; Attitudes; Intervention; Medical Research; Prevention; Prevention program; School violence; Schools; Secondary Education; Secondary Schools; Students; Attitudes; Adolescence; Prevention program; School violence
• ISSN: 0190-7409; 1873-7765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.05.010

There is growing interest in the phenomenon of school violence, which has been associated in diverse works with youth's attitudes towards violence, and it has been the focus of many intervention programs. However, the high human and economic cost entailed can impede its administration in some school centers. Therefore, the goal of the present study is to assess the efficacy of a brief intervention aimed at modifying attitudes towards violence to reduce the phenomenon of school bullying. The sample was obtained from a Secondary Education Institute during the 2010–2011 school term, and was made up of 252 students aged between 12 and 15years. A controlled and randomized design was used in order to assess the effects of the program “Count on Me.” Ten classrooms were randomly assigned either to the intervention or to a waiting-list. Results show a significant reduction of playground violence perceived by the students, especially among the girls. Implications for the development of future brief programs for the prevention of school violence are discussed.
•Recents findings suggests association between students' attitudes and school violence.•Were generated changes in the attitudes of adolescents not statistically significant.•Were achieved significant reductions of playground violence perceived by students.•Brief interventions can address the school bullying at acceptable costs.