Initial evaluation of the implementation of the KiVa anti bullying program in the Czech Republic

0565572 - PSÚ 2023 eng A3 - Přednáška/prezentace nepublikovaná
Klocek, Adam - Kotrbová, M. - Kollerová, Lenka - Pour, M. - Netík, J. - Havrdová, E.
Initial evaluation of the implementation of the KiVa anti bullying program in the Czech Republic.
[Workshop on Aggression /26./. Jena, 10.11.2022-12.11.2022]
Způsob prezentace: Prezentace
Pořadatel akce: Friedrich-Schiller-University
URL akce: www.woa.uni-jena.de 
Institucionální podpora: RVO:68081740
Klíčová slova: bullying * victimization * effectiveness * KiVa antibullying program
Obor OECD: Psychology (including human - machine relations)

This is the first study that aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the KiVa antibullying program in the Czech Republic. The program contains both universal actions (lessons, posters, wearable symbols, etc.) and indicated actions (KiVa team solving bullying incidents) with the goal to reduce bullying and victimization prevalence at school. KiVa is a structured whole-school program that gives agency to the school staff and activates peer-bystanders to defend victims. The present study conducted an initial evaluation of the program in the Czech Republic. It used a two-arm clustered randomized control trial with the KiVa intervention group (12 schools, N = 401 students) and a wait-list control group (12 schools, N = 408 students). Schools were randomized based on the pre-assessed baseline level of bullying and victimization. The data were collected at two time points during a single school year (September 2021 and June 2022) from students attending fourth (Mage = 9.3+.5 years) and sixth school grades (Mage = 11.3+.5 years). Outcomes were self-reported bullying and victimization and attitudes against bullying. At the second time point, 72% of students in the intervention arm reported that they want the KiVa program next year, as compared to 56% of students in the control arm (i.e. no program or only an antibullying program anchored in minimum prevention against bullying legal requirements). Further preliminary analyses using linear mixed models showed no significant differences between the KiVa and a wait-list control group in measured variables. These results could be explained by low fidelity, structural barriers during implementation (Covid 19, Ukraine invasion) or the fact that measurement feedback was provided to both groups (while being one of the three pillars of the KiVa intervention). Implications for further research are discussed.
Trvalý link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0337093