The evaluation of the effectiveness of the Tabby Improved Program- A one years study follow-up

Cyberbullying is a widespread phenomenon involving a significant number of children and adolescents. The COVID-19 has significantly increased youngsters” involvement in this kind of peer aggression and several studies underlined the negative consequences associated with cyberbullying, including it as a significant predictor of deviant and delinquent behaviors over time. Preventing and reducing youngsters' involvement in cyberbullying could be considered a priority. The Tabby Improved Program was developed by combining the Ecological system theory and the need assessment approach in order to develop and deliver a holistic, multi-componential program to address cyberbullying. To assess its' effectiveness a longitudinal and experimental study was carried out involving a sample of 622 students (40.8% experimental vs 59.2% control group) aged between 10 to 17 years (M=12.38, SD=1.45). The results underlined the program's effectiveness after a 6-months follow-up in reducing cyberbullying. However, results concerning the long-term follow-up highlighted that in absence of researchers' interventions no significant differences were found in participants’ involvement in cyberbullying between the study conditions. The results will be discussed in terms of practical and policy intervention.