Preventing and reducing bullying victimization in high schools: Which works better? Physical or psychological safety measures.

This article examines the relationship between two dimensions of school safety—physical and psychological—and bullying victimization among 1,526 high school students in Belgrade, Serbia. Using hierarchical multiple regression analysis, the study found that psychological safety, characterized by students’ feelings of safety and positive teacher–student and peer relationships, was significantly and negatively associated with bullying victimization, whereas physical safety measures (e.g., surveillance, security personnel) showed no significant association. The findings suggest that strategies focusing on fostering supportive interpersonal relationships and psychological safety may be more effective in preventing bullying than reliance on physical security measures. The study highlights implications for school policy and practice, emphasizing the role of school psychologists and social-emotional competency programs in creating safer school environments.