Citation

Cunningham CE, Cunningham LJ, Martorelli V, Tran A, Young J, Zacharias R. J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 1998; 39(5): 653-662.

Affiliation

Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation and McMaster University, Canada. cunningh@fhs.csu.mcmaster.ca

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9690929

Abstract

This study examined the effects of a student-mediated conflict resolution program on primary school (junior kindergarten to grade 5) playground aggression. Mediation teams of grade 5 students (approximately age 10) participated in 15 hours of training according to the model developed by Cunningham, Cunningham, and Martorelli (1997). Following baseline observations, mediation was introduced onto the playgrounds of three schools according to a multiple baseline design. Mediators successfully resolved approximately 90% of the playground conflicts in which they intervened. Direct observations suggest that the student mediation program reduced physically aggressive playground behavior by 51% to 65%. These effects were sustained at 1-year follow-up observations. Teacher and mediator satisfaction questionnaires provided strong support for impact, feasibility, and acceptability of this program.

Language: en