RESEARCH-BASED STRATEGIES AND BEST PRACTICES FOR BULLYING PREVENTION

Research underscores the critical role of a positive school climate in combating bullying. The results can be generalized and assumed, that: bullying behavior occurs when there is a victim, and the environment allows the realization of aggression; school culture is a strong predictor of bullying behavior; the probability of becoming a victim (victimhood) is high among those teenagers who experience high levels of stress in the environment; when a teenager experiences a sense of threat, he/she develops such physical, psychological, or social symptoms that make him/her vulnerable to bullying; the school culture that is oriented to adherence to the rules of communication and mutual respect in the group reduces the likelihood of a teenager to become a victim; consequently, when a teenager has a sense of wellness even in combination with aggression, this sense reduces the likelihood of a teenager to become a victim. As a result of the research, an effective anti-bullying program can be established that actively involves students, teachers, and parents.