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The ROOTS-Indonesia Anti-Bullying Program

The ROOTS-Indonesia program is a culturally adapted anti-bullying initiative implemented across Indonesian secondary schools. This program offers valuable insights into how social norms influence bullying behaviors and how targeted interventions can foster positive change.

The ROOTS-Indonesia program is an adaptation of the original ROOTS program developed in the United States. It focuses on altering students' perceptions of peer behaviors to reduce bullying. The program was piloted in 12 secondary schools across Central Java and South Sulawesi, involving over 7,200 students aged around 13 years.

A distinctive feature of ROOTS-Indonesia is its "bottom-up" approach, where influential students are identified by their peers to lead change initiatives. These students participate in sessions aimed at reshaping social norms related to aggression and bullying. Additionally, the program includes teacher training to promote positive discipline strategies.

The feasibility study revealed a strong correlation between negative social norms and increased instances of bullying, both as perpetrators and victims. Schools that implemented the ROOTS-Indonesia program observed a decrease in negative social norms and a corresponding reduction in bullying behaviors. Although the study wasn't statistically powered to confirm causality, the trends suggest the program's potential effectiveness.

Notably, the program's impact varied by gender. In some schools, the relationship between negative social norms and bullying was weaker among female students, indicating that gender may moderate the program's effectiveness.

The ROOTS-Indonesia program underscores the importance of addressing social norms in anti-bullying efforts. By empowering students to lead change and involving teachers in promoting positive behaviors, the program fosters a supportive school environment.

For psychology professionals and educators, this approach highlights the need for culturally sensitive interventions that consider the unique dynamics of each school community. Further research, including randomized controlled trials, is necessary to validate the program's efficacy and explore its scalability across diverse educational settings.



-Nil Sànchez-

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Bibliography:

Bowes, L., et al. (2023). Evidence from an Anti-Bullying Intervention Trial in Indonesia. Journal of School Psychology, 92, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42380-023-00176-8

Roestyati Talib, S. T., & Senan, D. C. P. (2024). School-Based Anti-Bullying Program on Reducing Violence among High School Students in Indonesia: A Quasi-Experimental Study. International Journal of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 11(2), 34-40. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPAM.ijpam_15_24

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