The Effectiveness of Safe Surfing Intervention Program in Reducing WhatsApp Cyberbullying and Improving Classroom Climate and Student Sense of Class Belonging in Elementary School
Keywords
media and technology (music
TV
magazines
Internet
gaming
iphones and messaging
bullying
networks
intervention/prevention
classroom behavior/ environment
Publication details
| Year: | 2020 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/0272431620931203 |
| Issued: | 2020 |
| Language: | English |
| Volume: | 41 |
| Issue: | 4 |
| Start Page: | 550 |
| End Page: | 576 |
| Editors: | |
| Authors: | Aizenkot D.; Kashy-Rosenbaum G. |
| Type: | Journal article |
| Journal: | The Journal of Early Adolescence |
| Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
| Topics: | Online safety and policy regulation |
| Sample: | A total of 533 students (50% females) in 25 classes in six elementary schools (37%—fourth grade, 32%—fifth grade, and 31%—sixth grade) in Israel |
| Implications For Educators About: | Other |
Abstract
Schools have prioritized fighting cyberbullying by implementing intervention programs. Yet few interventions have been studied for their effectiveness in reducing cyberbullying and improving socio-emotional aspects in the classroom. This study reports the results of the Safe Surfing intervention program designed to reduce cyberbullying in WhatsApp classmate discourse. Data were collected in the 2017-2018 school year from 533 students in 25 fourth- to sixth-grade classes (50% females) in six elementary schools in Israel. Two of the schools served as the control group. Results indicated a significant decrease in WhatsApp cyberbullying victimization and a significant improvement of classroom climate and student sense of class belonging in the experiment group. This compared with a significant increase in cyberbullying and a significant decrease in classroom climate and student sense of belonging in the control group. Educational implications are discussed. The findings demonstrate the achievements of the anti-cyberbullying intervention program, alongside the threats of avoiding intervention.
Outcome
The main results of the study (Aizenkot & Kashy-Rosenbaum, 2020) indicated a significant decrease in
WhatsApp cyberbullying victimization and a significant improvement of classroom climate and student sense of class belonging in the experiment group. This compared with a significant increase in cyberbullying and a significant decrease in classroom climate and student sense of class belonging in the control group.