Preventing Bullying through Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS): A Multitiered Approach to Prevention and Integration

Abstract

Although bullying continues to be a growing public health concern in schools across the United States, there are considerable gaps in the American understanding of effective prevention approaches for addressing this seemingly intractable issue. This article applies a public health approach to addressing bullying through the multitiered Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework. After describing the connection between bullying, school climate, and positive approaches to behavior management, this article summarizes research on PBIS with regard to bullying, school climate, and student discipline. In addition to potentially influencing student behavior, PBIS also serves as a possible framework for integrating other evidence-based bullying and youth violence prevention models across the three tiers.