The Effect of Assertiveness Training on Student's Self-Efficacy

The importance of elf-efficacy is in its effect on many human functions. Numerous studies have shown that by teaching different communication skills, self-efficacy can be improved. Assertiveness is one of these skills. Accordingly, the purpose of the current research was to investigate the effectiveness of assertiveness training program on increasing the self-efficacy of students.

This study was a semi-experimental research with pretest-posttest control group design. The population included all the 7th grade students of Shiraz in the academic year 2016-2017. A random sample of 80 students (40 boys and 40 girls) was selected by multi-stage clustering sampling. Then 20 students of each sex were randomly selected and assigned to either the experimental or the control group. In such a way that at the end 4 groups were formed (i.e. 20 girls in the experimental group, 20 girls in the control group, 20 boys in the experimental group, and 20 boys in the control group). The experimental groups underwent eight 90-min sessions of intervention (assertiveness training). Data were collected by General Self-Efficacy Scale (Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995) and Assertion Inventory (Gambrill & Richey, 1975). ANCOVA was used for analyzing the data.

Findings showed that assertiveness training was effective in increasing the self-efficacy (F=9, P <0.004) and assertiveness (F=50.02, P <0.0001) of the experimental group. No significant difference was found between the girls and the boys in terms of self-efficacy and assertiveness. 

The present research showed that the cognitive changes caused by assertiveness training and the exercise of "saying no" can improve students' self-efficacy and assertiveness. Research implications for the educational systems to increase the student’s capabilities are discussed in this paper.