The Development of an Online Psycho-Education and Cognitive-Behavioural Intervention Program ‘Step Up’ for Young People to Combat Cyberbullying

Abstract

The overall study aim was to develop and evaluate an intervention that seeks to help young people deal with cyberbullying. An online intervention (Step Up) was created based on an existing school-based program with proven efficacy. The first study describes the development of Step Up as well as a trial that assessed the feasibility and acceptability. This study gathered qualitative feedback about the young people’s experience of the program, and assessed the practicality of the assessment battery. A short form of the PECK (Personal Experiences Checklist) a measure assessing a young person’s experience of being bullied was constructed using item response theory, and its structure confirmed with confirmatory factor analysis. Feedback from the feasibility study was used to refine the intervention and make it was highly user-friendly. A wait-list randomised controlled trial was planned and commenced, but then abandoned due to a lack of school recruitment. Instead, a single group pre-post-follow-up design was implemented as a pilot study to test the efficacy of Step Up. It was hypothesized that people who completed the program would report: less experience with cyberbullying; less emotional problems; and positive changes in self-compassion. Sixty-eight young people completed the pilot study, including a short-term follow-up assessment. The results show largely positive changes on the measures, but the conclusions are limited by the lack of a control group. In conclusion, preliminary evidence is provided to support the effectiveness of an online intervention targeting cyberbullying in reducing reported bullying and emotional symptoms, and increasing self-compassion. The current study provides a foundation for an initial contribution to the range of anti-bullying interventions required to make the online world a safer place