ERIC Number: EJ1476657
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jun
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1866-2625
EISSN: EISSN-1866-2633
Available Date: 2025-05-30
Suggested Supports for Improving the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program's Implementation and Impact in an Under-Resourced Middle School Context
Melissa Washington-Nortey1; Terri N. Sullivan2; Kevin Sutherland3; Rihana Ahmed4; Jelani Crosby2; Stephani Hitti5
School Mental Health, v17 n2 p685-700 2025
Despite efforts to reduce and prevent incidents, bullying behaviors remain prevalent in schools, leading to poor outcomes for all involved. While the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is one of the most extensively implemented school environment interventions in the USA, it has yet to yield consistently positive results across contexts, necessitating efforts to understand strategies to bolster its success and that of similar school-wide prevention efforts. This qualitative study used data from focus group discussions with 39 school staff-teachers, administrators and administrative assistants, other non-teaching staff--on the factors associated with implementing the OBPP in their schools. It specifically distilled their perspectives on potential strategies that could further improve the odds of implementation success and impact. Additionally, it examined similarities and differences in these personnel's perspectives based on their respective roles and responsibilities. The data yielded seven themes, including intensifying training, increasing the efficacy of staff discussions, addressing issues related to time and conflicting priorities intensifying communication, increasing student involvement, increasing parent involvement, and providing staff support to help with implementation. Personnel's perspectives aligned with their responsibilities in the program, offering insights into the importance of triangulating data from multiple sources while prompting considerations about the school-wide applicability and feasibility of suggestions offered. The potential and feasibility of these thematic suggestions are discussed in the context of the OBPP intervention's components and provisions and findings from other school-based interventions. Implications for sustainability-based studies of the OBPP and other school-based interventions are also discussed.
Descriptors: Program Improvement, Bullying, Prevention, Program Implementation, Middle School Students, Program Effectiveness, Success, Sustainability
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 2014CKBX0009
Author Affiliations: 1King’s College London, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, Addison House, Guy’s Campus, London, UK; 2Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Psychology, Richmond, USA; 3Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Counseling and Special Education, School of Education, Richmond, USA; 4The Faison Center, School and Center for Autism, Richmond, USA; 5University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Aurora, USA