Interventions for Children, Youth, and Parents to Prevent and Reduce Cyber Abuse

Abstract

This Campbell Systematic Review examines the effectiveness of cyber abuse interventions in increasing internet safety knowledge and decreasing risky online behaviour.

The review summarises findings from three studies: one conducted in Canada and the other two in the USA. The participants were middle school students in grades five to eight between the ages of 5‐19 who use the internet or cell phones. A total of 2,713 participants were included in the studies. Cyber abuse interventions and preventions are associated with an increase in internet safety knowledge. Despite the increase in knowledge, students who received the intervention did not become less likely to engage in inappropriate online behaviour, such as disclosing one's name, participating in open chat rooms, or emailing strangers.

The three studies were evaluations of the following cyber abuse interventions: I‐SAFE cyber safety program, the missing cyber safety program, and the in‐school cyber bullying intervention (HAHASO). The I‐SAFE cyber safety had the largest effect on internet safety knowledge. Both the missing program and HAHASO suggests that intervention did not significantly change internet‐related safety attitudes or reduce the number of reported cyber bullying experiences. Given the low number of studies available for rigorous cyber abuse prevention and intervention evaluations, the evidence base for these conclusions is weak.