Social climate in primary school. Effectiveness of the violence prevention program 'Mut tut gut' from VHS and police

BackgroundLow social skills and distorted social-cognitive information processing can lead to aggressive behaviour and rejection by peers even in primary school.MethodsIn the present study the effectiveness of the violence prevention program Mut tut gut' (Courage is good) and its daily transfer by teachers over a3-month period was evaluated among 271 children from seven primary schools. The program evaluation was summative with pre-survey, post-survey and 3-month follow-up measurements in the areas of (1)emotional-social school experiences and (2)knowledge and (3)prosocial behaviour. The data analysis was carried out by means of structural equation models using latent difference score analysis.ResultsThe results show significant treatment effects in the emotional-social school experience, an increase of emotional-social knowledge and apositive change in prosocial behaviour. The implementation of the content in everyday school life has proven to be essential.