“Human distress is real”, says the mother who lost her child to suicide. The girl was a victim of bullying at school for 2,5 years before she finally committed suicide. (Julkunen 2023.) Unfortunately, this kind of news has become more and more common in the media recently.
The 2023 School Health Survey in Finland reveals that the number of children, who are bullied in school at least once a week, is rising. Slightly less than one in ten pupils in 4., 5., 8. and 9.graders have experienced bullying. Something that was also notable was the fact that over 21% of 8. and 9. graders had experienced a potential threat of violence. (Opetushallinto 2023.) Information on the wellbeing of school-age children is collected in Finnish school health surveys and each school’s own well-being and bullying surveys. Is there anything schools can do to intervene in bullying and promote the wellbeing of children at school?
Bullying has long-term impacts on a person’s life
Bullying in childhood is a worldwide known problem, which affects human health, mental health and relationship issues. Bullying is recognized to have far-reaching consequences for adulthood at the psychological, physiological and social levels. For example, the after-effects can appear as self -esteem, body image and mental health challenges in adulthood. Childhood bullying has also been found to be associated with the development of post-traumatic stress reactions. (Delara 2018, 1 & 18.)
So what leads one to be bullied and what the root causes of bullying might be? Bullying as a phenomenon is complex and that is the reason why it is so challenging to pinpoint a single explanation for it. Bullying situations involve many emotions for all parties, and this is often shown as an inability to empathize and understand another person’s feelings even though that would often be what is most needed.
KiVa – effective anti-bullying program in Finnish schools
KiVa anti-bullying program has a huge impact in Finland and many other countries against bullying. More than 900 schools in Finland participate in the KiVa School program and it is also used in more than 20 other countries. (KiVa Antibullying Program 2024b.)
To prevent bullying, it requires commitment and consistency from adults throughout the school and community to create an anti-bullying climate and culture. One effective way to tackle bullying is KiVa School program applied in most schools in Finland. KiVa has clear guidelines based on evidence and research on how to intervene in bullying at school. Throughout the year, schools systematically run KiVa lessons aimed at influencing the norms of groups of pupils and how children and young people act if they perceive bullying. KiVa also provides schools with tools, teaching materials, games and other activities for year-round use, so that they prevent and intervene in bullying but also monitor the situation in their school through annual online surveys and feedback. There are also materials for parents. (KiVa Antibullying Program 2024a.)
“Because the KiVa programme has a proven positive impact both in working against bullying and in creating positive environments for schools, could its potential be extended beyond the school setting?”
The Kiva School program has received international awards. The effectiveness of KiVa was studied in extensive studies already in 2007-2009. Since 2009, data has been collected through student and staff surveys from schools participating in the KiVa School program around Finland. The implementation of the KiVa School program has reduced bullying and increased well-being at school. (Kaarttinen 2022; Munukka & Kurki 2019).
The research results show that bullying and being bullied among 4.-6. graders decreased by 30-40% in KiVa schools already in the first year, says Christina Salmivalli, a professor at the University of Turku and the founder of KiVa. According to Salmivalli, the number of bullies in schools that have participated in KiVa for several years has decreased. However, this study was conducted almost 10 years ago, and no comparison between non-program and KiVa schools has been made since then. Even though research of impacts is still in progress. Salmivalli talks about an upcoming study that will study the situation of those who participated in KiVa program in 2007–2009, now aged 20–30, from the perspective of coping with bullying. (Kaarttinen 2022; Munukka & Kurki 2019).
Salmivalli says that according to studies, Kiva school program activities were more effective in primary school than in secondary school. In some ways, it is easier to influence younger people and change their behavior and practices. Bullying will never be completely eradicated; aggression is unfortunately part of human nature. But mitigating the impacts and increasing understanding is an effective way to try to change ideas, Salmivalli says. (Sutton, 2014).
As already noted, bullying is a notoriously common phenomenon. The vast majority of people, regardless of age, have some contact with bullying. Bullying does not only affect the victim and immediate family, but its effects extend to the bullies, the bystanders and the community as a whole. Intervention at bullying is everyone’s responsibility and the most effective action of all is for people to have the courage to tackle bullying and to be aware that bullying is not just confined to school, and that bullying prevention is not just for school staff. Co-operation with actors outside of the school increases effectiveness in anti-bullying work.
Even though there is undeniable scientific evidence of KiVa, why do we still need to address this? Simply because it’s not only anti-bullying program but also at the same time builds a positive learning environment and supports the well-being of students in various ways. Because the KiVa programme has a proven positive impact both in working against bullying and in creating positive environments for schools, could its potential be extended beyond the school setting?
Writers
Miia Pentikäinen, Sini Poutala & Sonja Suominen, Students of Welfare and Health Coordinator Master’s Degree Programme at Savonia University of Applied Sciences
Jaana Hämäläinen, Pirjo Pehkonen and Sanna Savela, Lecturers at Savonia University of Applied Sciences
References:
DeLara, Ellen W 2018. Consequences of Childhood Bullying on Mental Health and Relationships for Young Adults. Journal of Child and Family Studies. 2018 (8). https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ellen-Delara/publication/326961037_Consequences_of_Childhood_Bullying_on_Mental_Health_and_Relationships_for_Young_Adults/links/5b6e0aab45851546c9fa454e/Consequences-of-Childhood-Bullying-on-Mental-Health-and-Relationships-for-Young-Adults.pdf. Accessed 22.01.2024.
Julkunen, Emmi 2023. Olivian, 15, traaginen tarina leviää somessa. Ilta-Sanomat article. 12.09.2023. https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009844989.html. Accessed 22.01.2024.
Kaarttinen, Toni 2022. https://www.pelastusarmeija.fi/uutisia/uutiset/kiva-koulu-tehokas-tyokalu-koulukiusaamista-vastaan Accessed 27.3.2024.
KiVa Antibullying Program 2024a. Mikä on KiVa? https://www.kivakoulu.fi/kivaohjelmasta/ Accessed 12.1.2024.
KiVa Antibullying Program 2024b. Tutkimus ja vaikuttavuus. https://www.kivakoulu.fi/tutkimus/ Accessed 12.1.24.
Munukka Jouni & Kurki Riikka 2019, Ylistettyä Kiva koulu-ohjelmaa käytetään jopa vahingollisella tavalla: ”Jättää aikamoisia traumoja kiusatulle”. https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2019/01/09/ylistettya-kiva-koulu-ohjelmaa-kaytetaan-jopa-vahingollisella-tavalla-jattaa Accessed 3.2.2024.
Opetushallitus 2023. Kouluterveyskysely 2023: Kouluilla ja oppilaitoksilla on näköalapaikka lasten ja nuorten hyvinvointiin. News 21.09.2023. https://www.oph.fi/fi/uutiset/2023/kouluterveyskysely-2023-kouluilla-ja-oppilaitoksilla-nakoalapaikka-lasten-ja-nuorten. Accessed: 12.01.2024.
Pixabay 2023. Picture: Together we are more. Picture is published in picturebank 1.1.2023. https://www.istockphoto.com/fi/valokuva/tiimity%C3%B6k%C3%A4det-syd%C3%A4n-ja-monimuotoisuuskumppanuus-liikemiesten-tuki-tai-gm1448698670-486124424 Accessed: 9.4.2024.
Sutton Jon. 2014. Interview: Kiva against bullying. https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/interview-kiva-against-bullying. Accessed 3.2.2024.