Prevention Workshop to Address Bullying Behaviors in Schools

Not Applicable

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Bullying of Child; Child Behavior Disorders; Social Behavior; Mental Health; Interpersonal Relations; School Health Services; Prevention and Control

• Registration Number: NCT06835205
• Lead Sponsor: University Hospital, Grenoble

Brief Summary

This study, titled APACHES, is a cluster randomized controlled trial aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a school-based prevention program, "Tous Épanouis à l'École" (TEAL), conducted by healthcare students as part of their mandatory public health service curriculum. The TEAL program consists of five interactive sessions focused on developing psychosocial skills (e.g., communication, empathy, collaboration) among elementary school students (grades CE2-CM1-CM2) in the Grenoble Academy. The primary objective is to assess whether the program reduces the prevalence of bullying behaviors (victims and/or aggressors) compared to standard preventive actions on unrelated themes. The study involves 36 classrooms across 18 schools, with data collected at three time points: before, one month after, and four months after the intervention. Secondary objectives include evaluating social proximity, altruistic behaviors, and qualitative perceptions from students, teachers, and facilitators.

Detailed Description

Bullying is a critical public health issue with severe consequences for children's psychological development, academic success, and long-term health outcomes. The APACHES study evaluates the effectiveness of the TEAL program, a psychosocial skills training intervention tailored to reduce bullying behaviors and improve classroom climate. The intervention will be delivered by healthcare students (from medicine, midwifery, pharmacy, and nursing) as part of their Service Sanitaire curriculum.

The study follows a pragmatic design with a cluster randomized controlled methodology. Classrooms in participating schools are randomized into two groups: an intervention group receiving the TEAL program and a control group undergoing alternative health education sessions. The TEAL program is structured around active and participatory learning, including sessions on emotional awareness, communication, empathy, and collective problem-solving. A total of 900 students from 36 classrooms (approximately 450 per group) will participate.

Objectives Primary Objective: To determine whether the TEAL program reduces the prevalence of bullying (victims and/or aggressors) by comparing baseline and follow-up outcomes.

Secondary Objectives: To explore improvements in social proximity, altruistic behaviors, and psychosocial skills; to collect qualitative feedback from students, facilitators, and teachers about the intervention.

Data Collection and Outcomes Quantitative data will be collected using validated questionnaires (e.g., Revised Bully/Victim Questionnaire) administered at three time points: pre-intervention (T1), one month post-intervention (T2), and four months post-intervention (T3). Secondary outcomes, including social proximity and altruism, will also be assessed. Qualitative data will be gathered through interviews and focus groups to evaluate participants' experiences and perceptions.

Significance This study aims to address a pressing public health need by leveraging healthcare students' involvement in primary prevention. If effective, the TEAL program could be scaled nationally across France, contributing to the broader goal of improving psychosocial environments in schools and mitigating the long-term effects of bullying.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-10-01
• Study First Submitted: 2025-01-13
• Status Verified: 2025-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-02-13
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-02-13
• Study First Posted: 2025-02-19
• Last Update Posted: 2025-02-19
• Primary Completion: 2025-06-30
• Study Completion: 2025-06-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 900

Inclusion Criteria

• Students enrolled in grades CE2, CM1, or CM2 in participating schools.
• Parents or legal guardians have provided signed informed consent for their child to participate in the study.
• The child is available to attend all scheduled intervention sessions.

Exclusion Criteria

• Students whose parents or legal guardians have not provided signed informed consent.
• Students with medical or behavioral conditions that might prevent full participation in the sessions (e.g., requiring additional support not available during the study).
• Students not attending the school on a regular basis.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Prevalence of Bullying Behaviors (Victims and/or Aggressors)	Change from baseline (T1) to one month after the intervention (T2).	The proportion of students identified as victims, aggressors, or victim-aggressors based on the Revised Bully/Victim Questionnaire (rBVQ). Measured at three time points: before the intervention (T1), one month after the intervention (T2), and four months after the intervention (T3).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Social Proximity Score	Change from baseline (T1) to one month after the intervention (T2).	Assessment of the social proximity among students using a validated scale. The change in scores will be measured at T1, T2, and T3 to evaluate the intervention's impact on fostering closer social relationships.
Change in Psychosocial Skills	Change from baseline (T1) to one month after the intervention (T2).	Improvement in psychosocial skills such as empathy, communication, and emotional regulation, measured via a validated psychosocial skill scale. Changes are assessed at T1, T2, and T3.
Change in Altruistic Behaviors	Change from baseline (T1) to one month after the intervention (T2).	Improvement in students' altruistic behaviors, assessed using the French version of the Child Altruism Scale (20 items). Measurements occur at T1, T2, and T3.
Perception of the Intervention by Healthcare Students (Focus Groups)	Collected one month after the intervention (T2)	Exploration of the perceptions and experiences of healthcare students who facilitated the TEAL program, gathered through focus groups. Topics include perceived impact, challenges, and learning outcomes from the intervention.
Perception of the Intervention by Elementary School Teachers (Interviews)	Collected one month after the intervention (T2)	Feedback from teachers in the TEAL group on the program's impact on classroom dynamics, bullying behaviors, and overall implementation. Data are collected through semi-structured interviews.
Perception of the Intervention by Students (Interviews)	Collected one month after the intervention (T2)	Qualitative feedback from children in the TEAL group on their experiences with the program, including perceived benefits, engagement, and understanding of key themes. Data are collected via semi-structured interviews.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Académie de Grenoble; 🇫🇷 Grenoble, France