Gender differences in outcomes of bullying prevention programs: A meta-analysis

This paper presents the results from a meta-analytical review of the effectiveness of bullying prevention programs for boys and girls. A systematic search of three online databases was conducted of evaluations published between 1990 and 2018. The abstract review returned 352 articles, after full-text review the search yielded a final sample of 22 articles. The overall whole sample results suggest that bullying prevention programs are effective at reducing bullying among boys, but not girls; however, further analysis revealed that the programs are effective for both boys and girls outside of the United States, and ineffective for both boys and girls within the United States. Overall (both within and outside the United States), boys who participated in a bullying prevention program had 15% (95% CI: 1.01-1.31, p < .05) higher odds of a reduction in bullying victimization compared to boys in the control group, while boys and girls outside of the United States had 34% (95% CI: 1.11-1.62, p < .01) and 21% (95% CI: 1.00-1.62, p < .05) higher odds of a reduction bullying victimization. The findings suggest that prevention programs are largely effective at reducing bullying victimization, particularly among boys, but might be less effective among girls overall, and for both boys and girls within the United States. Future research needs to explore the impact of prevention programs on girls, as well as the divergent effect of programs within the United States compared to internationally.