Empirical and theoretical foundations of family interventions to reduce the incidence and mental health impacts of school bullying victimization

Abstract

Bullying victimisation is a serious risk factor for mental health problems in children and adolescents. School bullying prevention programs have consistently produced small to moderate reductions in victimisation and perpetration. However, these programs do not necessarily help all students affected by bullying. Paradoxically whole-school programs lead to higher levels of depression and poorer self-esteem for students who continue to be victimised after program implementation. This may be because some elements of whole-school programs make victims more visible to their peers, thus further eroding their peer social status. Three main identified risk factors for children and adolescents who continue to be victimised following school bullying prevention programs are peer rejection, internalising problems, and lower quality parent-child relationships. All are potentially modifiable through family interventions. A large body of research demonstrates the influence of families on children’s social skills, peer relationships and emotional regulation. This paper describes the theoretical foundations and empirical evidence for reducing the incidence and mental health outcomes of school bullying victimisation through family interventions. Family interventions should be available to complement school efforts to reduce bullying and improve the mental health of young people.

Keywords:

• Bullying prevention programs
• anti-bullying programs
• peer aggression
• bullying victimisation
• bullying perpetration
• family support

Disclosure statement

Drs Healy, Sanders, Thomas, and Scott are authors of Resilience Triple P and/or Teen Connect Triple P. At the time of writing neither of these programs have been disseminated. The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program is developed and owned by The University of Queensland (UQ). Triple P International (TPI) Pty Ltd is licensed by UniQuest Pty Ltd, a commercialization company of UQ, to publish and disseminate Triple P worldwide. Royalties stemming from published Triple P resources are distributed to the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences; Parenting and Family Support Centre at UQ; and authors. The authors of this paper have no share or ownership of TPI. TPI had no involvement in the writing of this manuscript.