Xènia Ríos Sisó leads a pioneering intervention project to tackle bullying in Physical Education
The researcher, together with the research team composed of Marta Borrueco (IRE-UAB), Maria Prat (IRE-UAB), Gonzalo Flores (University of Seville), and Carles Ventura (INEFC Barcelona), designed and evaluated the impact of an innovative educational framework aimed at enhancing bullying prevention and detection skills among future Primary Education teachers.
The project fosters international knowledge transfer to promote the integration of targeted bullying prevention programs into initial Physical Education teacher training curricula.
Xènia Ríos Sisó, a member of the Sport Research Institute at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, led a project dedicated to analyzing and evaluating the impact of a specialized training module on bullying within Physical Education settings. This study focused on strengthening academic synergies through short-term research stays and knowledge exchange to prepare for upcoming high-level research project applications. Designed to address the limited training on bullying previously reported by university students, she created a tailored educational capsule and personally delivered it across the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, the Universidad de Sevilla, and the Universitat de Barcelona.
The evaluation of the intervention, involving one hundred and twenty-seven undergraduate students, showed exceptionally high overall satisfaction and a major improvement in theoretical knowledge, particularly regarding criteria like repetition, intentionality, and power imbalance. The data collected and analyzed demonstrated that future educators significantly increased their perceived competence and confidence to prevent, detect, and handle bullying incidents. Participants highlighted the integration of practical games at sports facilities alongside theoretical insights as a core strength, although a clear majority suggested increasing total training hours to examine existing intervention protocols in greater depth.
Regarding dissemination and knowledge transfer, the project research team presented their findings as a poster at the World Anti-Bullying Forum in Norway, and a scientific paper has been submitted to an international journal where it is currently under peer review. Additionally, project activities included designing an informative brochure and a practical session guide for university networks, alongside a short-term research stay at the Universidad de Córdoba to consolidate institutional partnerships.