From the Playground to the Internet: Effective Intervention Spaces

• In Event: Roundtable: Anti-Bullying in America: How Has Bullying Changed for Youth in the U.S.?

Abstract

As research on bullying interventions has become more commonplace, many programs that were designed for school spaces have been adapted to reduce cyberbullying, often without consideration of the potential differences between the two behaviors. In addition, legislation has been introduced in many states that separates out cyberbullying into a separate category of harassment and/or legal liability, thereby encouraging schools to adopt intervention programs that may not be fruitful for the reduction of cyber based behaviors. Using data from a cohort of over 30 schools in a 5 year period, we discuss the similarities and differences between the behaviors, examine the efficacy of a school wide prevention approach on both behaviors, and talk about how future intervention and prevention research should consider divergent bullying experiences.

Authors

• Nadine M. Connell, The University of Texas at Dallas

• Natalie Schell-Busey, Rowan University