A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Effects of the KiVa Anti-bullying Program on Adolescents' Depression, Anxiety, and Perception of Peers




AuthorsWilliford A, Boulton A, Noland B, Little TD, Karna A, Salmivalli C

PublisherSPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS

Publication year2012

JournalJournal of Abnormal Child Psychology

Journal name in sourceJOURNAL OF ABNORMAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

Journal acronymJ ABNORM CHILD PSYCH

Number in series2

Volume40

Issue2

First page 289

Last page300

Number of pages12

ISSN0091-0627

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-011-9551-1


Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of the KiVa antibullying program on students' anxiety, depression, and perception of peers in Grades 4-6. Furthermore, it was investigated whether reductions in peer-reported victimization predicted changes in these outcome variables. The study participants included 7,741 students from 78 schools who were randomly assigned to either intervention or control condition, and the program effects were tested with structural equation modeling. A cross-lagged panel model suggested that the KiVa program is effective for reducing students' internalizing problems and improving their peer-group perceptions. Finally, changes in anxiety, depression, and positive peer perceptions were found to be predicted by reductions in victimization. Implications of the findings and future directions for research are discussed.



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