TY - JOUR T1 - Can a before-school physical activity program decrease bullying victimization in disadvantaged children? The Active-Start Study JO - International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology T2 - AU - Hormazábal-Aguayo,Ignacio AU - Fernández-Vergara,Omar AU - González-Calderón,Nicole AU - Vicencio-Rojas,Francisca AU - Russell-Guzmán,Javier AU - Chacana-Cañas,Cesar AU - del Pozo-Cruz,Borja AU - García-Hermoso,Antonio SN - 16972600 M3 - 10.1016/j.ijchp.2019.05.001 DO - 10.1016/j.ijchp.2019.05.001 UR - https://www.elsevier.es/en-revista-international-journal-clinical-health-psychology-355-articulo-can-before-school-physical-activity-program-S1697260019300559 AB - Background/ObjectiveTo test the effectiveness of an 8-week before-school physical activity program to reduce bullying victimization among a group of socially disadvantaged children in the Active-Start study. MethodA non-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in three public schools classified as highly vulnerable and located in a deprived area of Santiago (Chile). A total of 5 classes participated, totaling 170 fourth grade children. The intervention was delivered before starting the first school-class (8:00–8:30 a.m.). The program lasted for 8 weeks. Primary outcome measurement on bullying victimization was assessed by the CUBE questionnaire at baseline and post-intervention. ResultsThere was a statistically significant reduction in the probability of suffering physical bullying (OR= 0.18, 95% CI, 0.04-0.82; p= .027) and verbal bullying (OR=0.13, 95% CI, 0.02-0.97; p= .046) after the 8-week program. ConclusionsParticipation in an 8-week before-school physical activity intervention implemented in schools located in a disadvantaged district in Santiago (Chile) resulted in lower levels of bullying victimization among study participants. The Active-Start program may be a feasible and potentially scalable intervention option to improve the climate and pro-sociality environment at schools. ER -