Evaluating the Be-Prox Anti-bullying program in Norwegian Early Childhood Education and Care Centers: Results from a Quasi-experimental Study

The Bernese program against victimization in kindergarten and elementary school (Be-Prox) is one of few interventions targeting aggressive acts and early bullying behavior in Early Childhood and Educational Care centers (ECECs). The current study evaluates the Be-Prox program in 16 Norwegian ECECs (N = 887). The frequency of children exposing peers to negative acts (perpetration) and of children being exposed to negative acts by peers (victimization) were registered pre- and post-intervention. The associations between the intervention and negative acts were examined in mixed-models including the potential modification by age and gender. Introducing Be-Prox in the ECECs was associated with a statistically significantly decline in victimization (-0.73 (95% CI -1.27, -0.19), p = 008), but not perpetration (-0.37 (95% CI -0.96, 0.22), p = 0.219). Although, age and gender did not significantly modify the association, there was a tendency towards stronger associations in children three years and older and in girls. The effect of Be-Prox in a Norwegian ECEC context should be examined in a sufficiently powered RCT facilitating long-term follow ups.