Show-Me State Times

Researchers at the University of Missouri have been awarded $8 million in grants to develop new strategies for preventing bullying in schools. Chad Rose, a well-known expert in bullying prevention and director of Mizzou’s Bully Prevention Lab, emphasizes the importance of teaching students to be respectful and friendly towards each other.

Rose explains that bullying is a significant risk factor for violence. "After the Safe Schools initiative was launched in 1999 by the U.S. Department of Education, we began to see that children and teens who have experienced prolonged bullying or victimization have a higher likelihood of responding aggressively to bullying," he said. "And on the flip side, some who engage in violent behaviors are often labeled as school bullies."

The research team will use two grants from the U.S. Department of Education, each worth $4 million, to evaluate methods for reducing school bullying through social and communication skills training. Rose notes that these skills include responsible decision-making, self-awareness, and social awareness.

The first grant will assess the K-5 Second Step Program's effectiveness across 36 schools in Wisconsin, Louisiana, and North Carolina. The second grant continues an earlier project focused on professional development for teachers to better recognize and address bullying incidents.

"Bullying impacts a large portion of students in America," Rose stated. He highlighted that those with disabilities or lacking social skills are more susceptible to being bullied.

Rose also identified warning signs parents and teachers should monitor: changes in behavior or habits, withdrawal from friends or family interactions, increased depression or anxiety symptoms, frequent visits to the school nurse, and reluctance to attend school.

He suggests schools adopt a multi-step approach with clear rules and expectations for all staff members. "This begins by having clear rules, routines and expectations that everyone in the school follows," he said.

Rose hopes these grants will contribute significantly towards creating safer school environments by directly teaching essential life-long skills while reducing instances of bullying among students.

"Mizzou is on the leading edge of expanding upon that idea to improve the lives of students across the U.S." he added.

Co-investigators involved include Dorothy Espelage from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Anna Long from Louisiana State University; Kyle Nickodem from University of Minnesota; Phil Poekert; and Cathy Cavanaugh from University of Florida.