Implementation and evaluation of an intervention program aimed at cyberbullying and cybervictimization prevention: Combining the ecological system theory and the threat assessment approach

Abstract

The main aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Tabby Improved cyberbullying and cybervictimization prevention program, developed by combining the ecological system theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1977, 1979) and the threat assessment approach (Borum et al, 1999; Fein & Vossekuil, 1998, 1999; Fein Vossekuil, & Holden, 1995). To this aim, a short-term longitudinal study was carried out involving 622 Italian students aged between 10 and 17, attending five public middle and high schools in Campania. Participants were random assigned to one of the three conditions provided by the research (experimental, control with risk profile, and control without risk profile), via their classes. All students filled in the Tabby Improved checklist (whose psychometric characteristics were analysed) prior and six months after the intervention (T1 and T2). Results showed a significant decrease in cyberbullying and in cybervictimization among students in the experimental group in comparison with the control group. In particular, the increased awareness about cyberbullying and risky online behaviours mediated the decrease in cyberbullying observed in the experimental group. Findings were discussed in the light of the related literature.