Positive Attitude Development and Reducing Bullying Behavior among Early Thai Adolescents through a Prevention Program: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Bullying in modern society is increasingly markedly by aggressive behaviors, particularly among adolescents, with schools as the main setting. Promoting positive attitudes towards anti-bullying can raise awareness about bullying and strengthen the intention to refrain from engaging in such behavior. This quasi-experimental study examined the effects of the Bully Prevention Program on positive attitudes and intentions to refrain from bullying behavior. Two large secondary schools out of five located in the south of Thailand, were randomly selected and randomly assigned to the experiment and control setting. Random sampling was then used to recruit the students from each school according to the inclusion criteria and to match them by gender. Participants in the experimental group (n = 40) received the intervention program in addition to routine education, and a control group (n = 40) received only routine education from teacher at school. The instruments used for data collection were the Attitude Toward Bullying Behavior Questionnaire and the Anti-Bullying Intention Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, paired t-tests, and MANCOVA. The results showed that immediately after receiving the Bullying Prevention Program, the experimental group had significantly lower inaccurate attitudes toward bullying and had a significantly higher intention to refrain from bullying than at the baseline and of the control group. Thus, the Bullying Prevention Program effectively fosters positive attitudes towards anti-bullying and strengthens the intention to avoid such behavior among early adolescents. Nurses, school teachers, and parents should incorporate this program to promote accurate attitudes and behavior in adolescents. However, further testing in various schools with randomized controlled studies is needed before it can be used nationally.