Peer-led intervention campaign against school bullying: who considered it useful, who benefited?

Effects of a peer-led intervention campaign against school bullying, carrie d out by eight peer counsellors, were studied in an upper-level comprehensi ve school in southern Finland. The study was conducted in the seventh and e ighth grades, the total number of participating classes being 12 and the to tal number of participants 196 (89 girls and 107 boys). The core of the int ervention campaign was a one-week period during which a series of events an d activities were organized at the school and in each individual class. In all parts of the campaign, the peer counsellors emphasized each individual' s responsibility, as well as their potential to affect whether or not bully ing occurs in their school or class. The results showed that the campaign w as especially effective among girls. This was most clearly shown by decreas es in both self- and peer-reported bullying, as well as an increase in 'pow er attitudes', i.e. attitude items reflecting the students' self-perceived potential and willingness to influence bullying problems in their class. Am ong boys, on the other hand, there was a slight decrease in self- reported bullying, not confirmed by peer reports and, unfortunately, there was an in crease in pro-bullying attitudes, such as 'bullying might be fun sometimes' . Evaluating the campaign, girls also perceived it as more beneficial and m ore effective than boys did. Most students who reported being bullied befor e the intervention were satisfied with the campaign and thought it was help ful.