Retraction Note: KiVa anti-bullying program: preventing and reducing bullying behavior among students– a scoping review

Faculty of Nursing UNPAD Researchers Examine KiVa Anti-Bullying Program in Schools

Bullying remains a significant public health concern, particularly among adolescents, with impacts ranging from anxiety and low self-esteem to an increased risk of suicide. In 2024, a scoping review led by Rohman Hikmat (Faculty of Nursing UNPAD), explored the effectiveness of the Finnish-developed KiVa anti-bullying program in preventing and reducing bullying behavior among students.

The review, published in BMC Public Health, synthesized findings from 11 randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies involving between 1,051 and 23,520 participants aged 6–15 years, spanning elementary to high school settings. The KiVa program integrates education, assertiveness and empathy training, role-play, counseling, and interactive games, with implementation conducted both online and offline. Collaboration between teachers, students, health workers, and policymakers was identified as key to the program’s success.

While the findings initially supported the program’s effectiveness in reducing bullying (p < 0.05), the article was formally retracted by the journal on March 19, 2025. The retraction notice advises readers to interpret the content with caution and refer to the publisher’s statement for further details.

🔗 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20520-x