Development of effective coping strategies to reduce school bullying and their impact on stable victims

Bullying has serious effects on those involved, especially on the victims. Among the victims, those who experience these episodes over a long period of time has the most negative consequences. In order to combat this problem, minors implement different coping strategies that allow them to stop or cope with these situations and mitigate their effects. This study aims to analyse the impact of the 'AsegUrate' program on the coping strategies used by victims. A total of 3,428 secondary school students (48.9% girls) from 20 schools participated. The results of repeated measures ANOVA showed how the 'AsegUrate' program improves the coping strategies used by general and victimised students. These changes in coping with bullying victimisation occur among former victims and not among stable victims. The effectiveness of the program in improving the effective use of coping strategies is evidenced, although avoidance strategies were not reduced, being the least effective. Reasons for these results and implications for the design of prevention and intervention programs are discussed.

Automated summary

Bullying has serious effects on those involved, especially on the victims. The 'AsegUrate' program improves coping strategies used by victims, especially among former victims, but does not reduce the use of avoidance strategies.