Evaluation of an Intervention Program for Anxious Adolescent Boys Who Are Bullied at School
Received 3 December 2008; accepted 28 April 2009. published online 25 June 2009.
Refers to article:
Bullying: We Need to Increase Our Efforts and Broaden Our Focus
Pierre-André Michaud
Journal of Adolescent Health
October 2009 (Vol. 45, Issue 4, Pages 323-325) Full Text |
Full-Text PDF (201 KB)
Abstract
Purpose
This study tested the efficacy of an intervention for anxious adolescent boys experiencing bullying at school. The cognitive–behavioral intervention focused on targeting individual factors that appear to increase an adolescent's vulnerability to bullying experiences such as anxiety, low self-esteem, and use of maladaptive coping strategies.
Methods
Adolescent boys reporting anxiety symptoms and the recent experience of being bullied at school (grades 7–10) were randomly assigned by group to intervention (n = 22) or wait-list (n = 24) conditions. Depressive and anxiety symptoms and bullying experiences were measured before and after the intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up for the intervention condition.
Results
The intervention was effective in significantly reducing adolescent's bullying experiences as well as their anxiety, depression, and the degree of distress associated with being bullied. Intervention gains were maintained at the 3-month follow-up. The intervention was not effective in enhancing adolescent's self-esteem or changing aggressive or avoidant responses to bullying situations.
Conclusions
This study provides preliminary support for the value of individually focused interventions for boys in the effort to reduce the incidence of bullying within schools.
ABSTRACT