How peer support is conceptualised and implemented to reduce bullying in 10 European countries

Abstract

<p>School bullying is recognised as a global concern with severe impactson students’ physical and mental health, as well as educational out-comes. While peer support has been recognised as valuable in bullyingprevention, knowledge of how it is understood and effectively imple-mented remains limited. This study investigates how peer support isconceptualised by official educational authorities responsible for sec-ondary school students in 10 European countries; Albania, Austria,Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Kosovo, North Macedonia,Switzerland, and the UK. The purpose is to explore the concept ofpeer support, including the requirements of effective peer support andits outcomes in bullying prevention. A total of 63 documents wereretrieved and analysed using Applied Thematic Analysis. The findingsreveal that peer support is an umbrella term encompassing variousactivities, including peer mediation, mentoring, and tutoring. Effectivepeer support is characterised by the development of trust and formingrelationships in diverse communities, and training students in com-munication skills and conflict resolution. The study concludes thatwhile peer support initiatives are widely implemented, their effective-ness varies depending on programme design, implementation, andcontextual factors. Their success largely depends on school commu-nities and leadership. The findings underscore the need for a holisticapproach that integrates peer support into the broader educationalframework to create inclusive and safe school environments.<br></p>