The effect of assertiveness training on medical student's shyness

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an assertiveness training program on medical students’ shyness. This study is a semi-experimental one with pretest and post-test. We used convenience sampling method. Our intervention group included 50 second semester medical students of Kurdistan University who participated in assertiveness skills training course for 4 weeks. Control group consisted of second semester students of Kermanshah University who had not passed any course on assertiveness skills training. Cheek & Briggs Shyness Questionnaire was used for evaluation of both groups. For data analysis we used analysis of covariance. Experimental group included 19 men and 31 women and control group consisted of 20 men and 30 women. Both groups were similar in regard to the mean scores of the pretest. But the mean scores of the post-test in control and experimental groups showed a significant difference which indicated that life skills training could be beneficial for the students to overcome their shyness significantly (p=0.001). The results of this study showed that training of assertiveness skills could be helpful to the university students to control their shyness. Short term training of assertiveness skills is recommended for the school and university students.