This article details how National Institute of Justice-funded researchers analyzed research reports from independent studies, concluding that programs specifically designed to prevent or curb cyberbullying are better at reducing cyberbullying than general anti-bullying programs.
Schools can be instrumental in helping to stop cyberbullying among students, but not all school-based bullying programs have the same impact. This article details how National Institute of Justice-funded researchers analyzed 56 research reports from 90 independent studies and concluded that programs specifically designed to prevent or curb cyberbullying are better at reducing cyberbullying than general anti-bullying programs. As a bonus benefit, the same study, a meta-analysis of existing research, yielded some evidence that anti-cyberbullying initiatives can reduce conventional bullying as well, in terms of both perpetration and victimization. A key policy implication of these results is that school leaders should address cyberbullying through programs specifically targeting cyberbullying, according to the research team.