FUSE anti-bullying and online safety programme: measuring self-efficacy amongst post-primary students

Abstract

ABSTRACT ‘FUSE’ is an anti-bullying and online safety programme developed to support schools in complying with the Action Plan Procedures (2013). Between 2019 and 2022, 56% of all Post-Primary Schools in Ireland registered for the programme. FUSE is designed to address two key concerns, (a) students tend not to report bullying, and (b) students are increasingly facing online risks. FUSE aims to increase student’s self-efficacy to recognise and report bullying behaviour and online harms safely. The programme is informed by Latané and Darley’s bystander intervention model which outlines five sequential steps that an individual needs to follow in order to take action. This paper reports on the implementation of FUSE in Post Primary Schools in Ireland, justifying its theoretical base and model, and conveying the results of an empirical study conducted amongst a sample of 1254 Post Primary students (14–15 years of age) in 41 schools upon completion of the programme. Upon completion of the programme students reported high levels of self-efficacy in relation to noticing, responding and willingness to report. Future research will implement a pre- and post-study design to draw firmer conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the intervention.