Article

Assertiveness Training: A Forgotten Evidence-Based Treatment

October 2017
Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 25(1)

DOI:10.1111/cpsp.12216

Authors:

Brittany Speed

Stony Brook University

Brandon L Goldstein

UConn Health Center

Marvin Goldfried

Stony Brook University

The current article discusses assertiveness training, a once highly popular area of investigation that has been neglected in recent years by the field of psychotherapy. A substantial body of research indicates that assertiveness is a relevant factor associated with a variety of clinical problems, populations, and contexts, and that assertiveness training is a valuable transdiagnostic intervention. Despite its demonstrated importance, research on assertiveness and assertiveness training as a stand-alone treatment within clinical psychology has diminished drastically. We review the history of assertiveness training, revisit early research evidence for assertiveness training in treating various clinical problems, discuss the current status of assertiveness training, consider issues of clinical implementation, and comment on how the variables accounting for unassertiveness map onto the NIMH RDoC funding priorities.

The impact of Emotion-focused training for emotion couching delivered as mobile app on self-compassion and self-criticism

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2023

Introduction: Being self-compassionate is considered a beneficial emotion regulation strategy. Therefore, the acquisition of emotional skills can raise self-compassion levels and consequently reduce self-criticism. Methods: Hence, the goal of the current study was to develop a mobile app based on the empirically proven group version of Emotion-Focused Training for Emotional Coaching (EFT-EC) and test its effectiveness in reducing self-criticism and raising self-compassion and self-protection. The sample consisted of 85 participants, of whom 22.4% were men and 77.6% were women. The mean age was 32.53 (SD = 14.51), ranging from 18 to 74 years. The participants filled out the following scales immediately before and after using the fourteen-day mobile app: The Forms of Self-Criticizing/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS), The Sussex-Oxford Compassion for the Self Scale (SOCS-S), and The Short-form Version of The Scale for interpersonal behaviour (s-SIB). Results: Use of the 14-day EFT-EC mobile app significantly improved self-compassion and self-reassurance and significantly reduced self-criticism compared to pre- and post-measurements. Discussion: The results are promising as self-criticism is a transdiagnostic phenomenon observed in various kinds of psychopathology and reducing it may prevent the emergence of psychopathologies. Moreover, the mobile app intervention can easily be accessed by a wide range of users, without requiring the services of a mental health professional, and thereby reduces the potential risk of shame or stigmatization.

Submissive behavior as a transdiagnostic construct: Associations with internalizing symptoms and distress intolerance

Article

Jan 2023
J CLIN PSYCHOL

Objective: Submissive behavior is associated with significant impairment and negative life outcomes. The goal of the present study was to determine the transdiagnostic nature of submissive behavior by observing its association with internalizing symptoms (i.e., social anxiety, depression, and worry) and distress intolerance. Additionally, we sought to determine the moderating role of gender in these relationships. Method: We used a community sample (N = 208) to evaluate the hypothesized relationships between submissive behavior and internalizing symptoms. Results: All three internalizing symptoms were uniquely associated with greater submissive behavior when covarying for each other. Distress intolerance was also uniquely positively related to submissive behavior respective of general distress. Moderation analyses revealed that the associations between social anxiety, worry, and distress intolerance with submissive behavior were stronger in men rather than women. Conclusion: The present study provides novel evidence for the relevance of submissive behavior to internalizing symptoms and distress intolerance. We discuss clinical implications and directions for future research.

Training sull'assertività: un intervento da riscoprire? Prove di efficacia in un campione di studenti universitari e in un campione clinico

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2021

Sebbene diversi studi dimostrino l'efficacia di training sull'assertività nel migliorare il benessere psicosociale, con il passare degli anni questo intervento evidence-based è stato trascurato. Visto il potenziale utilizzo sia come intervento di prevenzione che di trattamento, sono presentati due studi volti a misurare l'efficacia di un breve training sull'assertività di 4 incontri. In particolare, sono stati misurati: frequenza e disagio associato ai compor-tamenti assertivi, strategie di regolazione delle emozioni, autostima, sintomi di ansia, depressione e insonnia. Al primo studio hanno partecipato 45 studenti universitari (età M = 24,89, DS = 4,05, 44,44% maschi), di cui 25 al gruppo sperimentale e 20 al gruppo di controllo attivo. Il secondo studio ha incluso un campione preliminare di 5 pazienti con difficoltà nell'assertività (età M = 24,00, DS = 3,54). Lo studio 1 ha evidenziato, al post-training, una riduzione del disagio e dei sintomi di depressione e ansia al pari del training di controllo attivo, suggerendo che, entrambi i training, siano efficaci nel migliorare il benessere. Lo studio 2 mostra un decremento significativo del disagio e un andamento delle medie pre e post-training che indica un miglioramento del benessere psicosociale, supportando l'osservazione clinica. Tali risultati suggeriscono che il breve training sull'assertività potrebbe esse-re integrato entro i programmi abituali di trattamento potenziandone l'efficacia.

The effect of assertiveness training in schizophrenic patients on functional remission and assertiveness level

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2020

Asertive training pada wanita dewasa

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2020

Dimas Setiawan Santoso

Subjek merupakan wanita berumur 20 tahun Subjek kurang dapat mengungkapkan pendapatnya dalam situasi apapun. Selain itu ia juga sulit mengatakan apa yang diinginkannya pada orang lain. Subjek seringkali hanya bisa mengikuti ajakan temannya kemanapun atau melakukan sesuatu walaupun ia merasa itu merugikan dirinya. Asesmen yang digunakan meliputi self report, wawancara, alloanamnesa, SSCT, tes Grafis dan skala asertifitas. Intervensi yang diberikan adalah positive reinforcement yang dirancang sebanyak 6 sesi. Tujuan intervensi ini yaitu agar subjek Mampu mengungkapkan perasaan, menolak, berpendapat kepada teman dikampus. Hasil dari intervensi yang dilakukan adalah assertive training memberikan perngaruh terhadap perubahan perilaku pada subjek yaitu ia mampu untuk mengungkapkan pendapat dan menolak ajakan teman meskipun ia belum sampai pada tahap menjelaskan alasan penolakan tersebut

Archives of Epilepsy The Effect of Assertiveness Training on Teamwork Attitudes during Epileptic Seizure Simulation: A Randomized Controlled Study

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2022

Objective: This study aims to determine the effect of assertiveness training on teamwork attitudes toward the crisis experienced by a standardized patient during epileptic seizures and on the clinical skills of nursing students. Methods: This randomized controlled study was conducted following a pre-test-posttest design with an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n=14). Data were collected using a personal information form, the Clinical Skills Assessment Form, the Rathus Assertiveness Inventory, and the TeamSTEPPS ®-Teamwork Attitude Questionnaire. The study was conducted in 5 stages. In the first stage before training, the personal information form as well as the Rathus Assertiveness Inventory and the TeamSTEPPS ®-Teamwork Attitude Questionnaire were administered to both groups. In the second stage, assertiveness training was provided to the experimental group, and in the third stage, training on the management of epileptic seizures was provided to both groups. In the fourth stage, a simulation was done, and the groups' performances were evaluated using the Clinical Skills Assessment Form. Finally, in the last stage, the Rathus Assertiveness Inventory and the TeamSTEPPS ®-Teamwork Attitude Questionnaire were re-administered to all groups. Results: The comparison of the experimental and control groups' pre-test-posttest scores on the Rathus Assertiveness Inventory, the TeamSTEPPS ®-Teamwork Attitude Questionnaire, and the subscales of TeamSTEPPS ®-Teamwork Attitude Questionnaire indicated that the leadership posttest scores and the Clinical Skills Assessment Form total scores of the experimental group were significantly higher (P < .05). The experimental group's Rathus Assertiveness Inventory posttest scores were significantly higher than their pre-test scores (P < .05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that assertiveness training was effective in improving teamwork attitudes, leadership role, and clinical skills based on simulations.

Interpersonal Adaptation, Self-Efficacy, and Metacognitive Skills in Italian Adolescents with Specific Learning Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2022

This study aimed to explore interpersonal adaptation, generalized self-efficacy, and metacognitive skills in a sample of Italian adolescents with and without a specific learning disorder (SLD). A total of 564 secondary and high school students (males = 236; females = 328; age range: 11–19; M = 16.14, SD = 1.70) completed a set of standardized tests assessing social and interpersonal skills (non-affirmation, impulsiveness, narcissism, social preoccupation, and stress in social situations), general self-efficacy, and metacognition. Students with SLD reported a lower interpersonal adaptation than students without SLD. Furthermore, students with SLD were more impulsive and had more problems handling social situations. They also reported lower levels of self-efficacy but higher metacognition scores than peers without SLD. The use of compensatory tools was associated with better interpersonal skills and higher levels of self-efficacy in students with SLD. Finally, using these instruments is predictive of high levels of metacognitive skills in adolescents with SLD. In line with the previous literature, this study showed the presence of a gap between adolescents with and without an SLD in terms of interpersonal adaptation, general self-efficacy, and metacognitive skills in the school context. Further studies are needed on the psychological well-being of adolescents with SLD and especially on the protective role of personal, social, and environmental characteristics.

Enhancing the effects of emotion-focused individual and couples therapy by nonviolent communication

Article

Jul 2022

Édua Holmström

https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/XJBQWMWRCRNHRD3GIB6B/full?target=10.1080/14779757.2022.2100809 Nonviolent communication (NVC), a person-centered communication process, is a potential tool for enhancing the interpersonal effects of emotion-focused therapy. After establishing NVC’s model for fostering compassionate communication and connection between people, we present NVC’s interpersonal processes and the theoretical premises for its use in emotion-focused therapy. We elaborate how an emotion-focused therapist could introduce NVC as a facilitating tool for helping clients express their needs in a manner that likely engenders compassion. NVC also assists clients in hearing others with empathy outside the therapy session, without the emotion regulation support from the therapist. The timing for the beneficial use is described for both the individual and couples therapy process.

Assertiveness, Self-Esteem, and Relationship Satisfaction

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2022

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between assertiveness, self-esteem, and relationship satisfaction while also accounting for the demographic variables of gender, age, relationship duration, and household income. An online survey-based, quantitative study (n=220) examined the following research questions: RQ1. What is the correlation between self-esteem, assertiveness, and relationship satisfaction? RQ2. Does self-esteem mediate the relationship between assertiveness and relationship satisfaction? RQ3. What factors are most significant in predicting relationship satisfaction? It was found that (RQ1) self-esteem and relationship satisfaction (p<.001) and self-esteem and assertiveness were correlated (p<.001). However, because assertiveness was not significantly related to relationship satisfaction, a mediational model was not tested (RQ2). Finally, when examining (RQ3) the most salient factors (length of relationship, income, assertiveness, self-esteem, gender) associated with relationship satisfaction via an ordinal regression model, only self-esteem remained significant (p<.001). The findings support previous research conclusions and suggest that self-esteem has a greater predictive ability on relationship satisfaction than assertiveness, but that further research is needed to understand these findings.

Predictors of assertive behaviors among a sample of first-year Tunisian medical students

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2022

Assertiveness is a constructive interpersonal behavior alternative to manipulation and aggression. Medical students (MSs) have daily interpersonal interactions with colleagues, patients and families. Yet, communication deficiencies due to hesitancy to speak-up assertively lead to adverse patient outcomes. This study aimed to assess levels of assertive behaviors (ABs), and to determine its predictors within a sample of first-year Tunisian MSs. This was a cross-sectional survey including 125 first-year MSs from Tunisia. ABs were measured by the Rathus assertiveness scale. Potential independent predictors of AB were evaluated using the following questionnaires: Rosenberg self-esteem scale, interpersonal communication skills inventory short-form-36quality of life questionnaire, and general health questionnaire. In addition, some MSs’ characteristics were considered (eg; age, sex, living with family, assertiveness training, community work, personal medical field choice, smoking, and alcohol use). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Among the 309 MSs, 125 (40.45%) responded to the survey. AB were found in 36.8% of MSs. Multiple linear regression models revealed that self-esteem global scores, sending clear messages, anxiety/depression and male sex were accountable for 31% in AB scores variance. Targeting self-esteem and interpersonal communication skills (sending clear messages) and identifying subgroups of students with anxiety/depression state would influence ABs.

Les patient.e.s et leurs proches face à la maladie rénale chronique avancée : étude de leur ajustement et de leur perception du choix de traitement

Thesis

Nov 2019

Lucile Montalescot

Introduction : en France, environ 6,6 millions de personnes vivraient avec une maladie rénale et, chaque année, environ 11000 personnes commencent un traitement de suppléance rénale. Les recherches ont montré que la Maladie Rénale Chronique (MRC) peut affecter les patient.e.s mais aussi leur famille. En revanche, l'ajustement à la maladie, notamment avant ou au cours du choix de traitement, a peu été investigué. Le premier objectif de ce travail était d'explorer l'influence des proches sur la santé mentale des patient.e.s et inversement. Le deuxième était d'examiner les facteurs individuels et familiaux en jeu dans l'ajustement psychologique des patient.e.s dans la période de choix de traitement. Enfin, le troisième était d'étudier le rôle de la famille dans le choix de traitement et le vécu de la MRC chez des patient.e.s et des proches. Méthode Au sein de la cohorte de CKD-REIN, 1400 patient.e.s et 430 proches ont participé à notre recherche. Tou.te.s les participant.e.s ont rempli des questionnaires portant sur leurs relations familiales, l'influence des proches sur le choix de traitement, leur assertivité, leur anxiété et leur dépression. Les proches ont également rempli une échelle de représentations de la maladie. Certaines données médicales et sociodémographiques ont également été relevées (e.g., genre, stade de la MRC). Pour répondre à notre premier objectif, nous avons mené des modèles d'équations structurelles selon l'Actor and Partner Interaction Model auprès des 380 dyades patient.e.s-proches éligibles. Pour notre deuxième objectif, nous nous sommes centrée sur les 217 patient.e.s qui avaient assisté à des séances d'éducation thérapeutique sur les traitements. Des régressions multiples, une analyse en composantes principales (ACP) ainsi qu'une classification ascendante hiérarchique nous ont permis d'étudier l'ajustement à la période de choix de traitement. Enfin, pour répondre à notre dernier objectif, 50 patient.e.s et 56 proches ont participé à un entretien semi-directif portant sur leur expérience de la MRC et du choix de traitement. Le discours des participant.e.s a été analysé avec ALCESTE®, un logiciel de statistiques textuelles. Résultats Les résultats relatifs à notre premier objectif montrent que la cohésion familiale ainsi que l'assertivité sont associé.e.s à une moindre symptomatologie dépressive chez les patient.e.s et les proches. La réponse émotionnelle des proches à la MRC est associée aussi bien à leur propre symptomatologie anxieuse qu'à celle des patient.e.s. Le conflit familial est associé à une plus grande anxiété chez les patient.e.s et les proches. Dans notre seconde étude portant sur l'ajustement à la période de choix de traitement, l'ACP confirme le rôle des relations familiales dans la santé mentale des patient.e.s. De plus, le rôle de l'influence des proches sur l'ajustement des patient.e.s dépend du contexte dans lequel elle survient (i.e., assertivité des patient.e.s, qualité des relations familiales). Enfin, concernant notre troisième objectif, l'analyse du discours des patient.e.s pointe comment ils et elles évitent de penser à la MRC. Elle montre également que les réflexions sur la transplantation rénale et la dialyse sont des processus distincts. La famille semble avoir un rôle particulier dans le premier mais pas dans le deuxième. L'analyse du discours des proches rejoint ce constat. Toutefois, bien qu'ils et elles rapportent surtout un rôle d'écoute, les proches expriment des opinions vis-à-vis des traitements. Conclusion Ce travail montre l'intérêt d'étudier et de prendre en charge la santé mentale des patient.e.s et de leurs proches en amont du stade terminal. Ces résultats pointent également comment l'évitement cognitif au sujet de la MRC est important chez les patient.e.s. De plus, nous avons montré le rôle important de la famille dans l'ajustement à la MRC ainsi que dans le choix de traitement. Toutefois, il semble que les participant.e.s n'en aient pas conscience

Cultural and Gender Differences in Social Anxiety: The Mediating Role of Self-Construals and Gender Role Identification.

Article

Full-text available

May 2022
CURR PSYCHOL

The current paper investigated underlying mechanisms that produce culture and gender differences in social anxiety. European-Canadian (n = 99; 47% female) and Asian-Canadian (n = 94; 54% female) undergraduate students completed questionnaires measuring levels of independence, interdependence, masculinity, femininity, and social anxiety. Asian Canadians reported a similar level of social anxiety to European Canadians, and females reported higher social anxiety than males. Mediational analyses revealed that levels of independence, interdependence, and masculinity mediated the association between culture and social anxiety, whereas levels of masculinity mediated the association between gender and social anxiety. Cultural differences in social anxiety are explained by the extent to which individuals define themselves as independent and interdependent, while gender differences in social anxiety are explained by the extent to which individuals identify themselves with a masculine gender role. Our findings suggest the orthogonal impact of culture and gender on individuals’ social anxiety. Implications and limitations of the findings are discussed.

Assertiveness scale as a teamwork aptitude predictor

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2021

Attitudes and applications of chairwork amongst CBT therapists: A preliminary survey.

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2021

Chairwork refers to a collection of experiential interventions which utilise chairs, their positioning, movement, and dialogue to facilitate therapeutic change. Chair-based methods are used in several models of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). However, little is known about cognitive behavioural therapists’ use and attitudes towards chairwork. A mixed methods survey was conducted of 102 therapists who provided CBT. Overall, training in chairwork was weak amongst CBT therapists (35%). Quantitative results indicated that most therapists perceived chairwork to be clinically effective and consistent with the cognitive behavioural model, but did not feel competent using these methods. Perceived competence was highest amongst therapists who had been trained in chairwork and practised it frequently, but was unrelated to CBT accreditation or clinical experience. Qualitative feedback identified a number of factors that encouraged the use of chairwork (e.g. overcoming limitations associated with verbal restructuring methods), as well as inhibitors (e.g. therapist anxiety and limited access to training). These preliminary findings highlight a need for further research relating to cognitive behavioural chairwork and suggest that increased training in experiential interventions could go some way towards improving outcomes in CBT. Key learning aims As a result of reading this paper, readers should: (1) Understand cognitive behavioural therapists’ attitudes towards chairwork. (2) Appreciate therapists’ anxiety and avoidance in relation to chairwork. (3) Identify the key factors that facilitate or inhibit the use of cognitive behavioural chairwork.

Interventions to prevent elder abuse in the community: a mixed-methods systematic review

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2021

Objective: To identify the interventions proposed in the literature aimed at preventing elder abuse among community-residing elders. Method: This was a mixed-methods systematic review that followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols checklist. The protocol of this systematic review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews. We included studies published between January 2004 and December 2019 in the databases: LILACS, IBECS, CUMED, CINAHL, MEDLINE and SciELO. The methodological quality of each study included was performed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results: Seven studies formed the final sample. Two groups emerged after the analyses: the primary level intervention group, which used health education and coexisting elder abuse groups; and the secondary intervention level, focused mostly on the mental health care of victims of elder abuse. Conclusion: There is still a shortage of intervention studies to prevent elder abuse. All the studies selected had a positive outcome, and all interventions can be implemented in nursing care practice.

Effectiveness of NoiBene: A Web-based programme to promote psychological well-being and prevent psychological distress in university students

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2021

Mental health problems are very common among university students. NoiBene is an evidence-based intervention for the promotion of well-being and the prevention of psychological distress among university students. NoiBene was tested in two studies. In study 1, a randomized controlled pilot trial was conducted to investigate the efficacy of NoiBene on students' well-being, emotional awareness, emotion regulation and assertiveness. The degree of satisfaction with the intervention was also investigated. Students (n = 24) were assigned to either the NoiBene programme or a control condition. In study 2, to confirm the usefulness of NoiBene, we analysed data from the current use of NoiBene (n = 178). The effectiveness of NoiBene on transdiagnostic mechanisms (perfectionism, repetitive thinking and experiential avoidance) was also investigated. In study 1, NoiBene improved self-acceptance and increased the ability to identify feelings. Students reported a good level of perceived usefulness. In study 2, the results confirmed findings from the first study and suggested that NoiBene can improve emotional awareness and decrease transdiagnostic mechanisms. NoiBene is a promising tool that can improve students' psychological well-being. More control studies are mandatory.

The Association between Entrepreneurial Perceived Behavioral Control, Personality, Empathy, and Assertiveness in a Romanian Sample of Nascent Entrepreneurs

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2020

In today’s global context, entrepreneurship is recognized as the engine of sustainable economic growth, competitiveness and employment in the economy of any nation. In order to improve the measures aimed at encouraging the creation of new businesses, an enhanced understanding of the drivers of nascent entrepreneurship seems essential. Drawing on planned behavior theory and the approach of entrepreneurial perceived behavioral control (PBC) as a motivational antecedent in starting a new business, the current study seeks to understand how the personal characteristics of the entrepreneurs influence entrepreneurial PBC. Three types of characteristics were assessed in a sample of 212 Romanian nascent entrepreneurs: personality traits (Big Five model), empathy, and assertiveness. The hierarchical multilinear regression analysis, in which entrepreneurial PBC was treated as a dependent variable, showed that the model with the highest explanatory power for the variance of results of entrepreneurial PBC included characteristics from all three levels: personality traits—Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Openness; empathy—personal distress and perspective-taking; and adaptive assertiveness. Additionally, the findings showed that adaptive assertiveness provides an effect over and above personality factors and empathy on the entrepreneurial PBC. The practical implications of these findings indicate that to enhance the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education programs, components aiming to enhance internal personal resources of entrepreneurs (such as assertive communication skills) should be added.

Perceived professionalism and its relationship with communication skills, social interaction and attitude towards medical subjects among undergraduate medical students in Malaysia

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2023

Background: Professionalism is an essential core competency in medical education in line with societal expectations. It is expected that the medical professionals show a specified set of behaviours and attitudes towards patients and society. This study assessed professionalism and its relationship with undergraduate medical students’ communication competency skills, learning attitude, and social interaction. Methods: This was a cross-sectional-correlation study conducted among undergraduate medical students irrespective of gender and nationality. A total of 319 students’ data were collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire. The collected data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 27.0. Pearson’s moment correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were done to identify the potential predictors of perceived medical professionalism. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study showed that professional relationship was significantly correlated with a positive attitude on communication skill (p<0.001), environmental control (p<0.001), interaction management (p<0.01), immediacy (p<0.01), attitude towards the medical subject (p<0.001). However, no statistically significant correlation was found between perceived empathy and age, gender, year of study, parental education and previous CGPA (p>0.05). Conclusions: The study found an interrelationship between professionalism, communication skills, interpersonal communication, and attitude towards medical subjects. However, the multivariate analysis revealed different weightage of influence to professionalism. Further advanced analysis is warranted to get the impact of each of the contributing variables to academic achievement.

Relation of Assertive Behavior, Hope Feeling, and Recovery for Patients with Schizophreni

Article

Nov 2022

Psychotherapy by Reciprocal Inhibition : Wolpe's unique legacy to the evolution of cognitive–behavioural therapy

Article

Nov 2022

The book Psychotherapy by Reciprocal Inhibition (1968) is widely acclaimed as the masterwork of Joseph Wolpe, a great pioneer in the development of behavioural therapy, and is considered one of the most influential books in the history of clinical psychology. In this article, a brief biography of Wolpe is followed by a critical review of the book that illustrates his major contributions to the evolution of cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) as the most empirically supported model of psychotherapy.

Increasing Assertive Behavior in Adolescents in Islamic Boarding Schools Through Assertive Training

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2022

Introduction: Assertive behavior is the ability to communicate the individual's want, feel, and think to others honestly and openly while respecting personal and other people's rights. One way to increase assertiveness in adolescents is through assertive training activities where this activity presents systematic activities that can develop and train individuals' abilities to express their thoughts, feelings, desires, and needs confidently. The purpose of this study was to analyze the change in assertive behavior of adolescents living in Islamic boarding schools through assertive training.Method: This was pre-experimental research with pre-post design. The sample was 80 respondents which were obtained by the purposive sampling technique. The measuring instrument uses assertive behavior questionnaires and data analysis using the Wilcoxon Paired testResults: The results of the analysis of assertive behavior in adolescents before the intervention were in a low category (42.5%) and after the intervention, adolescent assertive behavior was in a good category (46.3%). The results showed a p-value of 000 which is result indicated that there was an increase in the assertive behavior of adolescents living in Islamic boarding schools through assertive training.Conclusions: Adolescents with high assertiveness are able to control their emotions, mental health and have good coping with solving personal and social problems, and are able to express their wishes firmly to others

Acceptance and commitment therapy and its unacknowledged influences: Some old wine in a new bottle?

Article

Aug 2022

Miguel M. Gonçalves

Recently, Goldfried suggested that one main reason for the underdevelopment of psychotherapy as a scientific enterprise was the lack of acknowledgment of past contributions. In this article, this issue is illustrated by analyzing the particular case of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). ACT has clear overlaps with therapies from the systemic tradition, such as strategic therapy in the line of the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, and with the more recent models of solution‐focused therapy and narrative therapy. This article analyzes theoretical overlaps with these models (e.g., the paradoxical nature of human problems and the nature of language) as well as examples of similarities in therapeutic strategies (externalization and the miracle question). It concludes by suggesting that this practice of inadvertently obliterating the past does not favor the development of the field or the creation of consensus but rather contributes to the ongoing proliferation of “new” psychotherapy models. Trends that may contribute to circumventing this problem are discussed.

Does extraversion increase following a three‐hour flirt training? Exploring two training routes

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2022

Flirting situations are opportunities to behave in extraverted ways. However, it is not clear whether engaging in flirting behavior predicts extraversion. The current study explored whether extraversion increases following a 3‐h flirt training and compared two training routes to flirting. A two‐arm randomized pre‐post design with two active conditions were used. Ninety‐six adults between 18 and 49 years (67.7% women) were randomized to either: (1) a problem‐oriented training strategy that aims to compensate for problems and deficits related to flirting; or (2) a strengths‐oriented training strategy that capitalizes on individuals' strengths and resources. The outcome variables were assessed before and 30 days after the training. Participants in both conditions reported higher scores in flirting behavior as well as in extraversion following the trainings. The results suggest that flirt trainings are potentially interesting indirect intervention approaches to increase the expression of extraversion.

Critical issues in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with gender and sexual minorities (GSMs)

Article

Jan 2022

In a cisheteronormative culture, gender and sexual minorities (GSMs) may experience additional challenges that get in the way of a meaningful life. It is crucial that clinicians are mindful of these challenges and cognizant about the specificities of clinical work with GSMs. This article points out how societal structure interferes with mental health, and clarifies what clinicians must take into account when using affirmative cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions. Knowledge of up-to-date terminology and use of affirmative language are the first steps that contribute to clients’ experience of respect, which is paramount for the development of a good therapeutic relationship. Considering a conceptual framework of minority stress to understand vulnerability in GSM, specificities in formulation and key psychological processes are discussed. Moreover, guidelines and practical tools for intervention are presented within a CBT approach. Some reflections on therapists’ own personal biases are encouraged, in order to increase the efficacy of interventions. Key learning aims After reading this article you will be able to: (1) Recognize the uniqueness of gender and sexual minorities (GSM) stressors in broad and specific contexts, and their impact on mental health. (2) Identify the underlying key processes and specificities in therapeutic work with GSMs, from a CBT perspective. (3) Recognize the importance of a culturally sensitive approach in affirmative CBT interventions.

Longitudinal Assessment of a Manualized Group Treatment Program for Gambling Disorder: The Ohio Problem Gambling Treatment Model for Adults with Co-Occurring Disorders

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2022
J GAMBL STUD

Individuals with gambling disorder (GD) experience a host of negative psychosocial and physical health outcomes, yet few seek treatment. Of particular concern are individuals with co-occurring mental and behavioral health disorders, a group at higher risk for GD in the state of Ohio. To better serve this population, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services developed a group-based GD treatment manual for adults with co-occurring disorders. Over the course of 5 years, 353 individuals engaged in at least some of the manual’s 12 weekly modules, and more than one-third (n = 122) completed the entire curriculum. Participants who completed all 12 modules completed pre-and post-tests, and after controlling for covariates, participants significantly decreased their GD symptom severity, though changes in self-esteem and gambling urges were non-significant. These findings suggest the treatment manual holds promise at reducing gambling behaviors for individuals with co-occurring disorders, but further research is warranted to explore best practices on how to intervene on the psychological antecedents to gambling in this population.

The impact of mindfulness and assertiveness on well-being: A structural equation modeling analysis

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2021

Hacer Belen

Mindfulness is a positive psychological concept that has a crucial impact on individuals' wellbeing and mental health. The literature cites a considerable number of studies exploring the impact of mindfulness on various forms of wellbeing and documenting the relationship between mindfulness and other constructs. In order to obtain a complete understanding of the concept, an examination of potential mediators in the relationship between mindfulness and well-being is needed. In this regard, the current study aims to explore the influence of mindfulness on resilience, subjective wellbeing, and psychological well-being through assertiveness. In a sample of 400 university students, participants completed the Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS), Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (RAS), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and Psychological Well-being Scale (SPWB) and results demonstrated that assertiveness, mindfulness, positive affect, life satisfaction, and the dimensions of psychological well-being scores were found to be positively correlated with assertiveness and reversely associated with negative affect, as expected. Structural equation modeling analyses demonstrated that assertiveness mediated the relationship between mindfulness and resilience, subjective well-being, and psychological well-being. In conclusion, the results show that mindfulness contributes to some of the well-being indices, such as resilience, subjective well-being, and psychological well-being through assertiveness. Implications are discussed further.

Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management Effects on Prenatal Anxiety Among Low-Income Women

Article

Dec 2021

Objective: Few studies have tested cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce prenatal anxiety despite substantial empirical support among individuals seeking treatment for anxiety symptoms. We examined whether a brief cognitive behavioral intervention delivered to low-income pregnant women would be efficacious for reducing prenatal anxiety. Method: A sample of 100 primarily ethnic and racial minority pregnant women with subclinical anxiety (74% Latina, 18% Black; Mage = 26.5) were randomized to an 8-week cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention (n = 55), or to an attentional control condition (n = 45). Two forms of anxiety (state and pregnancy-specific) were measured at baseline, post-treatment, and at follow-up in the postpartum using the State–Trait Personality Inventory-State and the Pregnancy Related Anxiety scale, respectively. Intent-to-treat (ITT) and completer analyses were conducted using linear mixed models to test mean differences in both forms of anxiety by group assignment and by intervention completion (<7 vs. ≥7 sessions) at post-treatment and follow-up timepoints. Results: ITT results revealed no intervention Group × Time interactions for state, F(3, 356) = .51, p = .68, or pregnancy-specific anxiety, F(2, 184.39) = .75, p = .47, indicating no intervention effect post-treatment or at follow-up. Completer analyses showed that women who received all intervention content (34.5%) had significantly less state anxiety at post-treatment compared to women who had not completed the intervention, (65.5%; Msessions = 3.62); F(6, 270.67) = 2.35, p = .03, and those in the control condition. Conclusions: While we did not find support for the use of CBSM to treat prenatal anxiety among low-income women, those who received a full dose benefited in state anxiety immediately post-intervention.

Evaluation of an Assertiveness Training Based on the Social Learning Theory for Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Practitioners

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2021

Assertiveness is a fundamental type of behavior for the creation and maintenance of positive relationships at work and the facilitation of team functioning. Therefore, the promotion of assertiveness contributes to improving work performance, preventing harassment at work, facilitating the adoption of safe behaviors and making critical decisions in terms of occupational health and safety. However, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of assertive training to train occupational health, safety and environment (OHSE) technicians to facilitate their work as agents of change in the attitudes and behaviors of other workers. Therefore, an assertive training was carried out to increase assertiveness and decrease social anxiety in this type of professional. The training effectiveness was evaluated following a pretest–posttest group design. The results from both a pilot study in a sample of 328 undergraduate students and a study in a sample of 155 OHSE technicians indicated that the training was effective in achieving both objectives. Moreover, Cohen’s d statistics suggest that the effect size was intermediate. These results are discussed with respect to their role in contributing to occupational health safety and environment practices as well as to the organizations sustainability

Maternal depression and anxiety in an interpersonal context: The effects of positive–negative self-expressiveness within the family

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2021
CURR PSYCHOL

In the context of interpersonal risk models of psychopathology, little is known about the role of self-expressiveness within the family (SEF) in individual psychological distress. Therefore, the aim of this exploratory study was to examine main and interaction effects of positive and negative SEF on maternal depression and anxiety symptoms. The “Self-Expressiveness in the Family Questionnaire—Short Form” (SEFQ-SF) and the “Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale” (HADS) were administered to a sample of 403 mothers of toddlers, preschoolers and elementary school-aged children. Regression analyses and PROCESS computational tool in particular were used to examine main and interaction/moderating effects. Positive and negative SEF revealed altogether a medium-sized main effect on depressive symptoms, and negative SEF displayed a medium-sized main effect on anxiety symptoms. Positive SEF was found to buffer the association between negative SEF and maternal depressive symptoms. These preliminary findings suggest that positive and negative SEF may be differentially targeted in interventions to prevent or decrease maternal depression and anxiety symptoms. Specifically, the cultivation of positive SEF is likely to attenuate the detrimental effects of negative SEF on specific dimensions of maternal mental health.

Konsequenzen sozioökonomischer Ungleichheit für Individuum und Gesellschaft.

Chapter

Mar 2021

Global kompetent zu handeln bedeutet unter anderem, soziale Verantwortung zu übernehmen und Anerkennungserfahrungen für Menschen zu ermöglichen. Im folgenden Kapitel beleuchten wir aus einer (sozial)psychologischen, soziologischen und philosophischen Perspektive, zu welchen Herausforderungen die weltweit zunehmende sozioökonomische Ungleichheit führt und welche Konsequenzen dies für Anerkennung und in der Folge für die Gesundheit von Menschen hat. Dabei gehen wir davon aus, dass sozioökonomische (Un)Gleichheit aus mindestens zwei Perspektiven betrachtet werden kann: Zum einen können der sozioökonomische Status des Individuums – also das Einkommen, Vermögen und die Bildung einer Person – und vorhandene Variationen zwischen Individuen betrachtet werden. Die Forschung in diesem Bereich zeigt konsistent, dass ein niedriger sozioökonomischer Status negative Auswirkungen auf die physische und mentale Gesundheit von Menschen hat. Auf diesen Zusammenhang zwischen sozioökonomischem Status und Gesundheit gehen wir im ersten Teil des Kapitels ein. Zum anderen kann Ungleichheit auf gesellschaftlicher Ebene betrachtet werden. Dort beschreibt sie, wie (un)gleich Ressourcen, Einkommen und Vermögen in Gesellschaften verteilt sind und ermöglicht auch Vergleiche zwischen Gesellschaften. Den aus dieser ökonomischen Ungleichheit auf gesellschaftlicher Ebene resultierenden gesundheitlichen und sozialen Problemen widmen wir uns im zweiten Teil des vorliegenden Kapitels. Nach einem kurzen Überblick über die vorhandene Forschung zu möglichen zugrundliegenden Mechanismen, diskutieren wir die Rolle von sozialer Anerkennung und deren Verinnerlichung. Dabei werden zunächst drei Formen sozialer Anerkennungserfahrungen (bedürfnisbasierte Zuwendung, soziale Wertschätzung und gleichheitsbasierter Respekt) und deren Verinnerlichung in (jeweils) Selbstvertrauen, Selbstwert und Selbstrespekt vorgestellt. Anschließend wird dargestellt, wie sich sowohl ein niedriger sozioökonomischer Status des Individuums als auch Ungleichheit innerhalb von Gesellschaften negativ hinsichtlich aller drei Anerkennungserfahrungen auswirken können. Im letzten Teil des Kapitels diskutieren wir, warum insbesondere Respekterfahrungen und deren Verinnerlichung als Selbstrespekt eine zentrale, bisher wenig betrachtete, Größe darstellen und inwieweit Respekterfahrungen als Erklärungsansätze für den vielmals berichteten Zusammenhang zwischen individueller bzw. gesellschaftlicher Ungleichheit und (mentaler) Gesundheit dienen können. Abschließend geben wir einen Ausblick auf zukünftige Forschung und thematisieren kurz mögliche gesellschaftliche Interventionen.

Pelatihan asertif pada kelompok remaja perokok

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2021

Norhazha Rinanda

Masa remaja merupakan periode kehidupan yang ditandai denganperilaku yang bergejolak, rasa penasaran yang tinggi, melakukan apayang diinginkan, dan lebih banyak melibatkan pengambilan keputusanyang dipengaruhi oleh teman sebaya. Pengambilan keputusan olehremaja berkaitan dengan perilaku asertif yang dimilikinya. Pelatihanasertif pada kasus ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan perilaku asertifpada remaja perokok. Subjek merupakan kelompok yang terdiri dariempat orang remaja berstatus sebagai siswa SMA yang tersebar diKabupaten Hulu Sungai Selatan dengan rentang usia 15-16 tahun.Target intervensi yaitu keempat subjek dapat berperilaku asertif yangmana mereka mampu menyatakan tidak kepada ajakan orang lain danmampu menyampaikan pendapat atau keinginan kepada orang lain Hasilintervensi menunjukkan adanya peningkatan perilaku asertif dilihat darihasil skor skala perilaku asertif dan wawancara subjek yang manamereka mampu untuk menyampaikan pendapat dan menolak ajakanteman-temannya untuk merokok ataupun ajakan lainnya yang dianggaptidak mereka inginkan.

Assertiveness in the patients with thalassaemia major: A qualitative study

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2021

Aim To explore the concept of assertiveness in the patients with thalassaemia major. Design It was a qualitative study with a conventional content analysis design. Method Data were collected using a semi‐structured interview. The research sample included 16 patients with thalassaemia major who were selected using purposeful sampling method from among such patients at educational and therapeutic centres. Then, they were analysed using MAXQDA10 software. Results During the analysis of data for the concept of assertiveness, three sub‐concepts of "courage to self‐presentation," "demonstrating the abilities" and "attendance in groups" were developed.

Assertiveness Training of Novice Psychiatric Nurses: A Necessary Approach

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2020
Issues Ment Health Nurs

Assertiveness Training of Novice Psychiatric Nurses: A Necessary Approach

Article

Nov 2020

Carlos Laranjeira

"Demand what you prefer": the role of sexual assertiveness among HIV-infected women

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2019

Metacognitions and emotion recognition in Internet Gaming Disorder among adolescents

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2020

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is associated with considerable psychological distress in adolescents. However, studies which strive to shed light on the developmental background of IGD are still sparse. We aimed to examine the role of metacognitions and emotion recognition in predicting IGD during the early adolescence period. Four hundred and seventy-seven secondary school students were recruited for the study. Participants completed the Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT), the Metacognitions Questionnaire for Children (MCQ-C), and the Children’s Version of Reading the Mind in the Eye Test (RMET). Correlation analyses indicated that three factors of the MCQ-C (positive meta-worry, negative meta-worry, and superstition, punishment, and responsibility) and its total score were positively correlated with the majority of factors of the IGDT. The negative factor of the RMET was positively correlated with the salience, tolerance, and relapse factors and total score of the IGDT. Daily internet use was positively correlated with all factors of the IGDT and its total score. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that daily internet use and metacognitions (in different combinations) were significant independent predictors of IGDT factors and its total score, and that the negative factor of the RMET was a significant independent predictor of the salience and tolerance factors of IGDT and its total score. The implications of these findings are discussed.

“This is who I am”: a grounded theory of women’s assertive identity negotiation

Article

Dec 2022

Assertiveness development in women can be hindered by gendered norms of agreeableness and passivity. Despite this, many women become assertive, although less is known about how they negotiate the process. This grounded theory examined women’s assertiveness development based on experiences of eleven, primarily post-secondary educated women from a large Western Canada university. Women currently struggling with assertiveness (n = 6) and those who once struggled but now considered themselves more assertive (n = 5) were recruited to compare the immediate experience of barriers to assertiveness and reflections on overcoming these barriers, respectively. Semi-structured interviews and an assertiveness measure were used to capture participants’ convergent and divergent experiences. Participants’ main concerns centered on a desire to be socially accepted, which precluded assertive behaviour and culminated in personal costs such as not getting needs met. Processes in resolving these concerns involved cognitive, behavioural, and social changes, and finding a purpose in life that required assertiveness. These processes form the base of Assertive Identity Negotiation theory, where women negotiate an assertive identity by continually reflecting on and committing to self-assertion while balancing interpersonal concerns.

Peculiarities of Assertiveness Development and Ways of Socialization of Personality in Adolescence

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2022

Adolescence is a crisis period of personality development marked by significant physiological and neuropsychological changes that affect the growth and relationships with others. The uneven maturation of the limbic system and prefrontal cortex structures, characteristic of adolescence, provokes a decrease in subjective control and self-regulation, increased impulsivity, and emotional instability. Qualitative and quantitative morphometric changes in the brain of adolescents can cause behavioral problems, impaired control and self-regulation, a sharp change in areas of cognitive interests, the inability to understand themselves and explain their actions. These features are a predictor of the successful socialization of adolescents. Socialization is seen as a process in which the adolescent acquires the skills necessary for his entire existence in society. Psychophysiological changes in his body determine the nature and characteristics of socialization, relationships with others, the nature of actions, and social contacts. An important feature that promotes the adaptive socialization of adolescents is assertiveness. Assertiveness as personal property of behavior primarily involves the development of confidence, determination, perseverance, self-esteem, empathy, communication skills. The formation of assertive behavior significantly increases the adaptation processes of adolescents, normalizes the emotional sphere, has a positive effect on socialization, and sets the vector of social success, self-actualization, and self-realization.

Communication Apprehension in the Workplace: Focusing on Inclusion

Article

Nov 2022

Communication apprehension can lead to professional challenges for individuals, teams, and organizations. This is the first study of communication apprehension that involved a randomized national survey of working adults in the United States and captured broad representation in terms of age, gender, race/ethnicity, managerial status, and other factors. The study showed that communication apprehension is common, including in group discussions, meetings, interpersonal situations, and public speaking. It is significantly more common among early-career professionals, women, introverted professionals, and professionals with anxiety. Interpersonal situations appear to be the situations in which contemporary professionals are most likely to experience high communication apprehension. This study suggests more attention is needed to address communication apprehension in interpersonal and group situations. It also frames communication apprehension as a matter of inclusion and team performance.

Penerapan teknik bermain peran melalui konseling kelompok untuk melatih perilaku asertif sepuluh siswa kelas VIII SMP Kolose Kanisius Jakarta

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2021

Teknik bermain peran adalah teknik yang membantu seseorang untuk membayangkan diri mereka atau orang lain dalam situasi tertentu. Sikap asertif adalah sikap tegas adalah menuntut hak pribadi dan menyatakan pikiran, perasaan, dan keyakinan dengan cara langsung jujur dan tepat. Penelitian ini fokus pada keberanian mengungkapkan pendapat. Konseling kelompok adalah layanan konseling yang diberikan secara kelompok untuk membantu individu menyelesaikan sebuah masalah. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk melihat efektifitas penerapan teknik bermain peran dalam layanan konseling kelompok untuk melatih sikap asertif sepuluh siswa SMP Kelas VIII SMP Kolose Kanisius Jakarta. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian tindakan dalam BK. Subjek pada penelitian adalah 10 orang siswa SMP kelas VIII. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah observasi, wawancara, dan triangulasi data. Analisis data pada penelitian ini menggunakan triangulasi sumber yaitu mengecek data dari berbagai sumber yang akan dilakukan pada guru dan teman subyek di sekolah. Indikator tindakan dalam penelitian ini adalah subjek lebih aktif dengan menunjukkan sikap berani mengangkat tangan dan menjawab saat guru bertanya seputar materi, tidak ragu dan percaya diri saat berbicara atau menyampaikan pendapatnya. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa teknik bermain peran mampu melatih sikap asertif khususnya dalam berani mengungkapkan pendapat.

NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE NATURE OF EXTROVERSION: HOW TO BUILD AN INDIVIDUAL "HEDONISTIC PROFILE"

Article

Jan 2022

This article is devoted to the study of personality traits in the light of the achievements of modern neuroscience. We focus our attention on the extraversion, the key component of the "Big five" personality model. The data relating to psychogenetics, neurophysiology and neurochemistry of extraversion are summarized. Neuropsychological mechanisms of nature of extraversion are investigated in the context of psychological theories of personality. According to our results we state that building a "hedonictic profile" according to inherited and acquired specific characteristics of reward processing of an individual, can be valuable both in theoretical and clinical context. There is a connection between psychogenetic studies of extroversion, neuropsychological approach to the extraversion as a personality trait (as well as its aspects: assertiveness and enthusiasm) and the individual characteristics of the processing of pleasurable stimulus. The components of the "hedonistic profile" of the personality are defined in this study, which allow to assess individual differences in sensitivity to reward. The individual variability of extraversion is represented in a continuum from pronounced anhedonia (minimum level of extraversion) up to the harmonious ability to experience pleasure. Obviously, the pole of extraversion is more adaptive, indicating the desirable direction of personal development or possible psychotherapeutic efforts. Most of accessible clinical cases of depression and related disorders, described in special sources, demonstrate a deficit of taking into account individual parameters of extraversion, both at the level of its aspects and in terms of interaction with reward over time. This allows us to figure out how to build so called "individual hedonistic profiles" of the personality. In this study, the following variants of profiles were defined and described: anhedonic profile (reduced sensitivity to pleasure observed at all stages of the processing of hedonistic stimuli; increased risk of abuse), narcissistic profile (assertiveness significantly outweighs enthusiasm; anticipation and expectation of interaction with the stimulus is much stronger than the pleasure during its real consumption and at the stage of satisfaction, so called "aftertaste"), abulic profile (assertiveness is much lower than enthusiasm, reduced activity of the Behavioral Approach System - BAS; expectation is low but "on-line" consumption is pleasurable), compulsive profile (increased assertiveness prevails at the stage of interaction with the stimulus; consumption is repeated more and more, but satisfaction does not occur) and harmonious profile (adaptive version, which optimally combines assertiveness and enthusiasm; a balanced combination of hedonism and self-restraint; evenly distribution of pleasure experience in time).

One Compassion, Many Means: A Big Two Analysis of Compassionate Behavior

Article

Full-text available

May 2022
Mindfulness

Jordan T. Quaglia

Objectives Compassion science has been informed and guided by Buddhist perspectives, but has yet to fully account for certain key Buddhist ideas about compassion. Skillful means and fierce compassion represent two such ideas, both of which pertain to compassionate actions that may not always appear compassionate to recipients or observers. Methods To better account for the variety of compassionate behavior evident in the Buddhist traditions, including but not limited to skillful means and fierce compassion, this paper reviews relevant theory and findings from compassion science through the lens of the Big Two Framework. The Big Two Framework distinguishes between two core dimensions of social cognition, namely communion (i.e., warmth, morality, and expressiveness) and agency (i.e., dominance, competence, and instrumentality). Results The Big Two Framework’s fundamental distinction between communion and agency appears useful for delineating forms of compassionate behavior. Additionally, the framework is helpful for considering behavior from actor versus recipient/observer perspectives, making it well-suited to account for compassionate actions that may not appear compassionate. Conclusions Reflecting on compassion in relation to the Big Two maps a richer understanding of the social cognition underlying diverse forms of compassionate behavior and offers an empirically tractable framework and terminology for advancing research on understudied expressions of compassion.

Koruyucu ve Toplum Temelli Psikiyatri Uygulamalarında Psikiyatri Hemşireliği

Chapter

Mar 2022

Psikiyatri hemşireleri, ruh sağlığının korunmasında ve geliştirilmesinde, ruhsal hastalıkları ve bu hastalıkların yol açtığı sorunları önlemede, ruhsal hastalıklarla başa çıkabilmelerinde ve hastalık yaşantısını yönetebilmelerinde birey ve ailelere hizmet veren sağlık profesyonelleridir. Birincil, ikincil ve üçüncül koruyucu ruh sağlığı hizmetlerinin sunumunda, ruh sağlığı hizmetlerinin planlanmasında ve uygulanmasında, yüksek riskli grupları belirlemede, danışmanlık, eğitim ve krize müdahale gibi işlevleri gerçekleştirmede de aktif rol almaktadırlar. Koruyucu ve toplum temelli psikiyatri hemşireliği uygulamaları bağlamında; psikoeğitim, psikoterapi, bilinçli farkındalık temelli yaklaşımlar, psikososyal beceri eğitimi, atılganlık eğitimi, motivasyonel görüşme, nefes ve gevşeme egzersizleri, müzik terapi, tele-psikiyatri ve aile merkezli girişimler uygulanmaktadır. Bu makalede, koruyucu ve toplum temelli psikiyatri hemşireliği uygulamaları hakkında bilgi verilecek ve çalışmalardan örnekler sunulacaktır.

The Effectiveness of Psychodrama Group Therapy on Assertiveness, Unconditional Acceptance, and the Spirit of Gratitude among Physically Disabled Individuals: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Article

Sep 2021

Understanding Your 7 Emotions: CBT for Everyday Emotions and Common Mental Health Problems

Book

Nov 2021

Lawrence Howells

Criticism in the Parkinson’s Caregiving Relationship: A Key Target for Intervention

Article

Oct 2021

Introduction Caregiver distress is prevalent in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and predictive of negative health outcomes for both people with PD and caregivers. To identify future intervention targets, it is important to better elucidate the specific processes, such as criticism, that perpetuate burden. Objective Evaluate the frequency and impact of criticism and reactivity to criticism in PD caregiving dyads. Methods Eighty-three people with PD and their caregivers independently completed measures of criticism and physical and emotional health. Results Criticism in the caregiving relationship was reported by 71.1% (n = 59) of people with PD and 80.7% (n = 67) of caregivers. Both perceived criticism and emotional reactivity to criticism were significant predictors of caregiver distress, adjusting for PD motor and non-motor symptom severity. In contrast, criticism was not related to PD depression. Conclusion Criticism in the PD caregiving relationship is a clear target for psychotherapeutic intervention and may improve caregiver health and quality of life.

Development and Psychometric Properties of an Instrument for the Assessment of Assertiveness in Sexual Relations

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2021
Sex Res Soc Pol

Introduction The potential consequences of being assertive or non-assertive for people’s sexual health and sexual well-being highlight the importance of assessing sexual assertiveness (SA). The currently available measures have limitations because they do not take recent social changes into account, they are designed to only assess women, and/or they ignore several components of SA. This study tests the psychometric properties of the Assertiveness in Sexual Relations Questionnaire (ASRQ). Methods Thus, 2370 participants (aged 18–69 years) of Spain completed the ASRQ, along with other scales that assesses related dimensions (e.g., family values in relation to sexual assertiveness, sexual esteem). Data were collected during 2020. Results Exploratory factor analysis yielded a four-factor structure: Assertive behavior as initiative, sub-assertive behavior, overly assertive behavior as initiative, and assertive behavior as a response, which was verified by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). A multigroup CFA was also conducted in men and women, confirming the adequacy of this four-factor structure across genders. The reliability of the factors ranged from 0.72 to 0.87. Similarly, correlations with related scales were mostly significant and in the expected direction. Conclusions The psychometric results obtained support the use of the ASRQ as a reliable and valid measure to assess sexual assertiveness in both men and women. Policy Implications The availability of an instrument to assess sexual assertiveness, whose psychometric properties have been satisfactorily tested, benefits society by contributing to the improvement of the sexual health of the population, allowing for more effective interventions and the early detection of skills that contribute to the establishment of risky sexual interactions.

Promoting Assertiveness in Youth in Foster Care: Pilot Testing a Brief Intervention in a Randomized Trial

Article

Apr 2021
CHILD YOUTH SERV REV

Children in foster care lead their lives at an increased risk for mental health issues. Often, these are complicated by the unstable and unpredictable nature of their living arrangements and interpersonal relationships. As such, there is substantial need to examine brief therapies and interventions for use with children in foster care and children who have experienced similar trauma and instability. The present study is a pilot investigation of the efficacy of a brief behavioral intervention targeting help-seeking behavior and assertiveness skill provided to a sample of children in foster care (N = 23). Three, 30-min group sessions of a targeted assertiveness skills intervention were developed and conducted on a sample of children in foster care and compared to an assessment-only control group. Measures of assertive tendencies, emotions towards seeking help, and assertive help-seeking skills were collected at pretest and posttest to assess the efficacy of the intervention. Participants who received the intervention significantly improved on measures of general assertiveness, F(1, 20) = 9.672, p < 0.01, d = 1.33, MD = 2.73, 95% CI [-.90, 4.56], and assertiveness skills, F(1, 20) = 24.237, p < 0.01, d = 1.78, MD = 15.54, 95% CI [8.96, 22.13], though not on the measure of emotions towards situations in which they would use these skills to seek help, F(1, 20) = 2.218, p = 0.152, d = 0.37, MD = 6.36, 95% CI [-2.55, 15.28]). These findings provide preliminary support for the use of a brief intervention to teach assertiveness and help-seeking skills to a population of children in the foster system who are uniquely in need of brief intervention due to the instability of their living arrangements. Limitations, future directions, and implications are discussed.

Internet‐based CBT Program with and without videoconference guidance sessions: A Randomized Controlled Trial to treat work‐related symptoms of anxiety and depression

Article

Feb 2021

This study provides the results from the implementation of a highly structured therapist‐guided iCBT program for people with work‐related anxiety and depression, in terms of program efficacy, participants’ adherence and satisfaction. Seventy‐seven national police‐workers were randomly allocated to one of two groups: without additional videoconference sessions (web platform with guidance of therapist), and with additional videoconference sessions (same intervention as the previous group, plus two videoconference guidance sessions with a psychologist). The intervention was comprised of 12 sessions and took place for 17‐20 weeks. We found an adherence rate of 36.4%, with no differences between groups. All participants endorsed lower depression [BDI‐II F(1) = 36.98, ρ < .001; ATQ F(1) = 24.22, ρ < .001], and anxiety [STAI‐State F(1) = 76.62, ρ < .001] after the program. As a variable related to anxiety and depression in workplace, participants also showed higher assertiveness levels [RAS F(1) = 8.96, ρ < .001]. A significant reduction of the mean level of anxiety perceived by participants as the intervention program progressed was observed in both groups (F(2)=7.44; p=.003). Participants were satisfied with the therapists’ intervention and with the program. No significant group effects were found for any of the measures. Reduction in depression levels was maintained in the 12 months follow‐up, but levels of anxiety increased. This study is innovative, as it is the first controlled trial to analyze the effect of two added videoconference sessions, and it includes short and long term measures, which is not usual. The results are discussed to clarify the role of the contact with the therapist to improve treatment adherence.

COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES' IMPACTS ON THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF COMMUNICATION MODELS AMONG A SAMPLE OF MILLENNIALS - A PILOT CASE STUDY

Article

Dec 2020

Dagmar Svobodová

Polite Women at Work: Negotiating Professional Identity Through Strategic Assertiveness

Article

Full-text available

May 2014

This study explores how women learn effective communication styles through socialization as well as the strategic choices that women make when performing face-threatening acts at work. We argue that communication style choices are gendered and learned primarily through trial and error. We also argue women learn to perform assertiveness in ways that manage the tension between their personal and professional identities, concluding that participants strategically enact assertiveness by consciously considering gender, relationship, context, and goals.

A Historical Approach to Assertiveness

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2013

A very important personal quality is to be able to advocate for yourself - your own positions, to achieve your objectives, to overcome difficulties,to be determined, but without harming the rights of others and to be able to control the aggressive impulses. The concept, which expressesthese personal characteristics, is called "assertiveness". Assertiveness is a part of the personal potential. It is a prerequisite for self-actualization.The goal we set in this historical-psychological paper is to explore the genesis, development and stabilization of the term "assertiveness". Inthis context, we will examine, compare and analyze the positions of the leading authors on this issue.

Sexual Objectification and Sexual Assault: Do Self-Objectification and Sexual Assertiveness Account for the Link?

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2015

Objective: Recent research grounded in objectification theory reveals significant positive associations between experiences of sexual objectification and sexual assault victimization. However, it remains unclear why this relationship exists. To address this question, we tested a path model in which repeated experiences of body evaluation (a form of sexual objectification) were expected to increase risk of sexual assault via the mechanisms of increased body surveillance (a form of self-objectification) and lower sexual assertiveness. Method: Participants were 297 undergraduate women who completed validated measures assessing their body evaluation experiences, body surveillance, sexual refusal assertiveness, and sexual victimization. Results: Correlations revealed expected relations among the variables. As hypothesized, the results of path analyses revealed that higher body evaluation predicted greater sexual victimization both directly and indirectly via higher body surveillance and lower sexual assertiveness. Conclusion: This study identifies body surveillance and sexual assertiveness as potentially important factors that may mediate associations between experiences of body evaluation and sexual assault. Findings suggest that interventions designed to interrupt persistent body surveillance and bolster assertiveness in the face of unwanted sexual experiences may be effective in reducing sexual assault. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

The contribution of perceived ethnic discrimination to the prevalence of depression

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2014

European research on the association between perceived ethnic discrimination (PED) and health is importantly lacking. It is also unknown how much PED contributes to disease prevalence. In this study, we quantified the contribution of PED to depression in five ethnic groups in a middle-size European city. We used cross-sectional data from the HELIUS study (Healthy Life in an Urban Setting), collected from January 2011 to June 2013 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. We included a random sample of 1753 ethnic Dutch, 1143 South-Asian Surinamese, 1794 African Surinamese, 1098 Ghanaians and 850 Turks, aged 18-70 years. PED was assessed using the Everyday Discrimination Scale. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used for assessing depressive symptoms and major depressive disorder (MDD). We used logistic regression and calculated the contribution of PED to depressive symptoms and MDD using the population attributable fractions. Depressive symptoms and MDD were most common in Turks and South-Asian Surinamese, and lowest in ethnic Dutch. PED had a positive association with depressive symptoms and MDD in only the ethnic minority groups. The contributions of PED to depressive symptoms and MDD were around 25% in both the Surinamese groups, and Turks, and ∼15% in Ghanaians. We conclude that PED contributes considerably to depression in ethnic minority groups in a European context. As such, ethnic inequalities in depression could be reduced substantially if ethnic minority groups would not perceive any ethnic discrimination. We encourage more European research on the health impact of PED. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Associations between assertiveness, psychological well‐being, and self‐esteem in adolescents

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2013

This study explored the associations between adolescents’ assertive behavior, psychological well‐being, and self‐esteem. The sample consisted of 1,023 students (14.9 ± .51; 47.6% boys). Two dimensions of the Scale for Interpersonal Behavior (distress and performance), 2 factors of the General Health Questionnaire‐12 (depression/anxiety and social dysfunction), and 2 factors of the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale (positive self‐esteem and negative self‐esteem) were used; data were analyzed using hierarchical linear regression. It was found that (a) the more anxious respondents felt in assertive situations, the less frequently they engaged in these situations; and that (b) both dimensions of assertiveness were associated with psychological well‐being and self‐esteem.

Growth rates of modern science: A bibliometric analysis based on the number of publications and cited references: Growth Rates of Modern Science: A Bibliometric Analysis Based on the Number of Publications and Cited References

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2014

Many studies in information science have looked at the growth of science. In this study, we re-examine the question of the growth of science. To do this we (i) use current data up to publication year 2012 and (ii) analyse it across all disciplines and also separately for the natural sciences and for the medical and health sciences. Furthermore, the data are analysed with an advanced statistical technique - segmented regression analysis - which can identify specific segments with similar growth rates in the history of science. The study is based on two different sets of bibliometric data: (1) The number of publications held as source items in the Web of Science (WoS, Thomson Reuters) per publication year and (2) the number of cited references in the publications of the source items per cited reference year. We have looked at the rate at which science has grown since the mid-1600s. In our analysis of cited references we identified three growth phases in the development of science, which each led to growth rates tripling in comparison with the previous phase: from less than 1% up to the middle of the 18th century, to 2 to 3% up to the period between the two world wars and 8 to 9% to 2012.

Comparative Efficacy of Seven Psychotherapeutic Interventions for Patients with Depression: A Network Meta-Analysis

Article

Full-text available

May 2013
PLOS MED

Previous meta-analyses comparing the efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions for depression were clouded by a limited number of within-study treatment comparisons. This study used network meta-analysis, a novel methodological approach that integrates direct and indirect evidence from randomised controlled studies, to re-examine the comparative efficacy of seven psychotherapeutic interventions for adult depression. We conducted systematic literature searches in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase up to November 2012, and identified additional studies through earlier meta-analyses and the references of included studies. We identified 198 studies, including 15,118 adult patients with depression, and coded moderator variables. Each of the seven psychotherapeutic interventions was superior to a waitlist control condition with moderate to large effects (range d = -0.62 to d = -0.92). Relative effects of different psychotherapeutic interventions on depressive symptoms were absent to small (range d = 0.01 to d = -0.30). Interpersonal therapy was significantly more effective than supportive therapy (d = -0.30, 95% credibility interval [CrI] [-0.54 to -0.05]). Moderator analysis showed that patient characteristics had no influence on treatment effects, but identified aspects of study quality and sample size as effect modifiers. Smaller effects were found in studies of at least moderate (Δd = 0.29 [-0.01 to 0.58]; p = 0.063) and large size (Δd = 0.33 [0.08 to 0.61]; p = 0.012) and those that had adequate outcome assessment (Δd = 0.38 [-0.06 to 0.87]; p = 0.100). Stepwise restriction of analyses by sample size showed robust effects for cognitive-behavioural therapy, interpersonal therapy, and problem-solving therapy (all d>0.46) compared to waitlist. Empirical evidence from large studies was unavailable or limited for other psychotherapeutic interventions. Overall our results are consistent with the notion that different psychotherapeutic interventions for depression have comparable benefits. However, the robustness of the evidence varies considerably between different psychotherapeutic treatments. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

Your Perfect Right: A Guide to Assertive Behavior

Article

Full-text available

Jan 1974

Many researchers have requested the full text of the publication, Your Perfect Right. Please note that this item is a 300-page published book, first published in 1970 and now in its tenth edition (2017), with over 1.3 million copies in print. For further information, please visit my website, www.yourperfectright.org or contact the publisher, New Harbinger Publications, at www.newharbinger.com. The table of contents is included hereinbelow. Thanks for your interest in our work, and good luck with your own research and publications. -- Robert E. Alberti, Ph.D., Co-Author, Your Perfect Right: Assertiveness and Equality in Your Life and Relationships Atascadero, California USA ===================================== Your Perfect Right -- 10th edition (2017) -- table of contents PART I: YOU AND YOUR PERFECT RIGHT 1. Assertiveness and You 2. How Assertive Are You Now? 3. Keep Track of Your Growth PART II: DISCOVERING ASSERTIVENESS 4. Whose Perfect Right? 5. What It Means to Be Assertive 6. “Can You Give Me an Example?” PART III: BECOMING ASSERTIVE 7. Set Goals for Yourself 8. It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It! 9. Assertive Messages — Twenty-First-Century Style 10. Thinking Assertively 11. There’s Nothing to Be Afraid Of 12. It’s a Skill You Can Learn 13. Take It One Step at a Time PART IV: BUILDING ASSERTIVE RELATIONSHIPS 14. Assertiveness Builds Equal Relationships 15. All in the Family: Assertiveness for Parents, Children, and Seniors 16. Assertiveness, Intimacy, and Sexuality PART V: APPLYING YOUR ASSERTIVENESS 17. Anger 101: It’s Not a Four-Letter Word 18. Anger 102: What You Can Do About It 19. Must We Put Up with Put-Downs? 20. Assertiveness Works at Work Too 21. Dealing with Difficult People PART VI: LIVING AN ASSERTIVE LIFE 22. Deciding When to Be Assertive — or Not 23. When Assertiveness Doesn’t Work 24. Helping Others Deal with the New Assertive You 25. Beyond Assertiveness Appendix: Assertiveness Practice Situations References and Further Reading Online Resources Index

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Process and Practice of Mindful Change

Book

Sep 2011

Since the original publication of this seminal work, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has come into its own as a widely practiced approach to helping people change. This book provides the definitive statement of ACT—from conceptual and empirical foundations to clinical techniques—written by its originators. ACT is based on the idea that psychological rigidity is a root cause of a wide range of clinical problems. The authors describe effective, innovative ways to cultivate psychological flexibility by detecting and targeting six key processes: defusion, acceptance, attention to the present moment, self-awareness, values, and committed action. Sample therapeutic exercises and patient–therapist dialogues are integrated throughout. New to This Edition *Reflects tremendous advances in ACT clinical applications, theory building, and research. *Psychological flexibility is now the central organizing focus. *Expanded coverage of mindfulness, the therapeutic relationship, relational learning, and case formulation. *Restructured to be more clinician friendly and accessible; focuses on the moment-by-moment process of therapy.

Considering Meta-Analysis, Meaning, and Metaphor: A Systematic Review and Critical Examination of “Third Wave” Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies

Article

Jul 2016

In this review, we examine common usage of the term third wave in the scientific literature, systematically review published meta-analyses of identified third wave therapies, and consider the implications and options for the use of third wave as a metaphor to describe the nature of and relationships among cognitive and behavioral therapies. We demonstrate that the third wave term has grown in its use over time, that it is commonly linked with specific therapies, and that the majority of such therapies have amassed a compelling evidence base attesting to their clinical and public health value. We also consider the extent to which the third wave designation is an effective guide for the future, and we encourage scientific inquiry and self-reflection among those concerned with cognitive and behavioral therapies and the scientific basis of psychotherapy more broadly.

DBT skills training Manuale

Book

Jan 2015

The Book is the Italian Edition of M-M: Linehan DBT skills training manual pp.900

DYSFUNCTIONAL COGNITIONS AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SKILLS AND COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL ASSERTION TRAINING

Article

Jan 1980

Nice girls don't ask - Women negotiate less than men - and everyone pays the price.

Article

Oct 2003
HARVARD BUS REV

Managers who pride themselves on giving employees what they request may be shortchanging women, simply because men ask for a lot more than women do. This can be costly for companies, and it requires management intervention.

Multiple Skill Deficits in Depression

Article

Jun 1989
BEHAV CHANGE

Elaine Heiby

This study involves the description of the presence or absence of several theoretically relevant skill deficits in 35 cases of depression. Until recently, most research and theory about depression has been based on the assumption that this is a homogeneous disorder with one determinant common to all incidences. Theories proposed by Beck (1967), Lewinsohn (1974), Seligman (Abramson, Seligman & Teasdale, 1978), and Rehm (1977) are examples of unitary theories. It is argued that a comprehensive account of depression must involve a multivariate theory such as that proposed by Staats and Heiby (1985). The case study involves a preliminary uncontrolled test of the hypothesis that there exist several skills deficits that may determine depression. The findings suggest support for the possibility that the following skill deficits deserve further investigation for their role in depression aetiology and treatment: logical errors including misattributions, poor self-control skills, poor social skills in terms of excessive aggression and deficit assertiveness, and inadequate hedonic capacity in terms of deficit positive interests and excessive negative interests (anhedonia). Suggestions for future research are offered.

Treatment for chronic depression: Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP)

Article

Sep 2003
J Psychother Integrat

James P Mccullough

When one introduces a new psychotherapy model to professional colleagues, one must do 3 things: (a) define the patient for whom the program has been developed; (b) describe hoiv the model addresses the pro blemns of the patient, which entails some description of the techniques; and (c) present any efficacy data that are available that justify the usefulness of tile new program with the target population. Accordingly, Part 1 of tile article describes tile chronically depressed adult, (lie target individual for whoimi the cognitive behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy (CBASP; J. P. McCullough, 1984, 2000, 2001, 2003a) has been specifically developed. liz Part II, the reader is shown how GBASP tries to modify the multiple psychopathological pro blemns of the patient. In Part III is a summary of data obtained from a recently completed ,nultisite, national clinical trial in which 681 chronically depressed outpatients were comparatively treated with CBASP, nefazodone serzone., and their co,nbination. Among completers of the study (n = 519; 76%) during a 12-iveek acute phase, 55% responded to serzone, 52% responded to cBASP, and 85% responded to combination treatment.

On Possible Consequences of National Institute of Mental Health Funding for Psychotherapy Research and Training

Article

Jan 2015

Marvin Goldfried

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has changed its funding priorities for psychotherapyrelated research. With the introduction of Research Domain Criteria (RDoC), the focus has moved away from supporting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to an emphasis on gathering primarily neurobiological data that are associated with observable and dimensionalized psychological problems, even as they occur across diagnostic categories. Among the general domains that are to be funded are negative and positive valence systems, cognitive systems, social processes, and arousal and regulatory systems. Moreover, each domain will be studied at different levels of analysis, such as genetic, molecular, neural circuitry, physiological, and behavioral. Offering an overview of the history of psychotherapy research and its funding as an historical context, this article discusses some of the implications of this shifting model, and considers the potential impact the current NIMH funding priorities may have on therapyrelated research, the development of psychoactive medications, and the training of clinical psychologists as therapists.

Sexual Victimization Among College Women: Role of Sexual Assertiveness and Resistance Variables

Article

Jan 2015

Objective: College women are at high risk for sexual assault, especially women with a history of sexual victimization. The present study uses a longitudinal design to explore the role of sexual assertiveness, psychological barriers to resistance, and resistance self-efficacy as putative mediators between prior sexual victimization and sexual revictimization among a sample of 296 college women. Method: Women completed assessments of sexual victimization since the age of 14, as well as putative mediator variables at a baseline assessment. Sexual revictimization was assessed over a 7-month interim. Results: Results of structural equation modeling indicated that the relationship between baseline and follow-up sexual assault was mediated by the study variables. Follow-up analyses suggested that sexual assertiveness served as a particularly salient mediator. Conclusions: These findings suggest that increasing women's sexual assertiveness skills may be a particularly important component of reducing risk for sexual revictimization among women with a history of assault. (PsycINFO Database Record

Social Skills Training with Schizophrenics: A Meta-Analytic Evaluation

Article

Dec 1990

A meta-analytic review of 27 studies on social skills training with schizophrenics was conducted to address 3 critical issues in the literature: (a) the magnitude of treatment effects relative to different outcome measures; (b) the extent of the generalization and maintenance of treatment effects; and (c) the impact of 2 methodological issues: diagnostic clarity and training variations. Social skills training has a strong, positive impact on behavioral measures of social skill, self-rated assertiveness, and hospital discharge rate, and a moderate impact on relapse rate. In addition, when behavioral measures are used, the data support generalization and maintenance of skill gains. However, effects are only marginally significant for broader ratings of symptoms and functioning. Diagnostic homogeneity, the number of techniques used, and the amount of training do not appear to be significantly associated with outcome. Specific directions for future research are discussed.

I can if I want to

Book

Jan 1975

The Effects of Assertive Training on Self-Concept and Anxiety

Article

Oct 1974
ARCH GEN PSYCHIAT

Lawrence P. Percell

The hypothesis that people who are assertive are also more selfaccepting and less anxious was tested by administering to 100 psychiatric outpatients an assertive inventory, a self-acceptance scale, and an anxiety measure. Results showed a substantial positive relationship for both men and women between the assertive inventory and the self-acceptance measure and a strong negative correlation for women only between the assertive inventory and the anxiety measure.To test whether group assertive training would increase self-esteem and reduce general level of anxiety, as well as teach assertive skills, 24 patients were assigned to either an assertive training group or a relationship-control group for eight sessions. Subjects in the assertive training group showed significant increases in assertiveness, self-acceptance and significant decreases in anxiety relative to controls.

The effect of an assertiveness training program for adolescents in residential care in South Korea

Article

Dec 2014
ASIA PAC J SOC WORK

Ji Myoung Jung

This study assesses the effectiveness of an assertiveness training program on the emotional improvement of adolescents in residential care. The training programme was provided to 12 female adolescents and 12 others were in a control group. Forty-five items from the Korean Personality Inventory for Children (KPI-C) were used in measuring anxiety and depression. Pre and post analysis, as well as in-depth interviews, were conducted. The effect of the program was verified by the nonparametric testing methods, by the Mann Whitney U test and the Wilcoxon matched-pairs singled-ranks test. The findings are that, compared to the control group, the experimental group demonstrated a decrease in depression and anxiety.

Implications of RDoC for the Research and Practice of Psychotherapy

Article

Oct 2014
BEHAV THER

The field of psychotherapy is at an important juncture. Recent changes in the field include (1) the skeptical reception of the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual and (2) the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)’s prioritization of an alternative classification system to guide translational and intervention research. Moreover, (3) the field continues to be held accountable to governmental agencies and third-party payers to demonstrate its empirical basis. Thus, psychological research as it relates to the practice of psychotherapy is at a crossroad. In this article, we provide a brief overview of several generations of psychotherapy outcome research, including the consequences that followed in the 1980s as psychotherapy research moved toward randomized controlled trials for clinical disorders. We delineate the inherent strengths and limitations of this movement and address how the NIMH has recently responded with the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC). We then address philosophical and practical implications of the emphasis on a neuroscientific conceptualization of psychological problems. Finally, we discuss opportunities for a next generation of convergent science that incorporates, rather than replaces, psychosocial variables across stages of translational research and treatment development.

Effects of assertion training on acceptance of disability by physically disabled university students

Article

Mar 1980
J COUNS PSYCHOL

This pilot study focused on the effects of assertion training on 14 physically disabled undergraduates' acceptance of disability. A pretest–posttest control group design was utilized. Ss were randomly assigned to either a treatment group or a no-treatment control group. The hypotheses analyzed were that Ss given assertion training would show increases in Acceptance of Disability Scale scores, self-concept/esteem scores (Rathus Assertiveness Scale), and social interaction skills scores (Behavioral Observation Scale) when compared with individuals who did not experience assertion training. Significant results were obtained for all hypotheses indicating that the groups differed in acceptance of disability, self-concept, and social interaction. The study suggests that assertion training may be effective for increasing acceptance of disability in physically disabled students. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

Social Skills Training for Psychiatric Patients, I

Article

Oct 2008
Occup Ther Ment Health

John Paul Brady

Deficits in social skills are often seen in psychiatric patients. In particular instances these may be a consequence of the psychiatric illness, a contributing cause to that illness, or a feature of the psychiatric disorder. During the last two decades, systematic training programs in social skills have been developed and evaluated for the amelioration of these deficiencies. The author critically reviews basic concepts and methods in social skills training and the results of treatment in case reports, analogue studies, and single-case experimental decisions.

Temperament and social support in adolescence: Interrelations with depressive symptoms and delinquent behaviors

Article

Feb 1992
J YOUTH ADOLESCENCE

Michael Windle

This study investigated the interrelations between temperament, perceived family and friend support, and depressive symptoms and delinquent activity with a sample of 975 adolescents (¯xage=15.5 years). A "difficult temperament" index was devised, and manifested significant associations with depressive symptoms and delinquency, as well as with low family and friend support. Moderator and mediator variable models were specified via hierarchical multiple regression equations and path analyses, respectively. There was little support for the moderator variable models; partial support was garnered for the mediational models, indicating that part of the influence of temperamental difficulty on depression and delinquency may be attributable to reduced levels of perceived family and friend support. However, temperamental difficulty also significantly predicted depression and delinquency directly, over and above its indirect influences via perceived family and friend support. The findings were similar for males and females as indicated by simultaneous group structural equation models.

Effectiveness of Assertive Community Treatment in Hong Kong Among Patients With Frequent Hospital Admissions

Article

Nov 2013
PSYCHIAT SERV

Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of assertive community treatment (ACT) for a group of psychiatric patients in Hong Kong with frequent hospital admissions. Methods: The study compared hospitalization and other outcomes among participants of a two-year ACT intervention and a control group who had received treatment as usual two years earlier. The patients were Chinese adult psychiatric patients who had three or more admissions in the 12 months before the study. Results: Seventy patients were recruited for each group. Although all the outcome measures decreased with time for both groups, repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated that the treatment group had significantly greater reductions in readmission rate, length of stay, and total days between a missed medical appointment and the next service contact. Conclusions: ACT was effective in reducing hospitalization and enhancing service contacts for a group of Chinese psychiatric patients with frequent hospital admissions.

Assertiveness and anxiety: A correlational study

Article

Oct 1975
J BEHAV THER EXP PSY

Based on Wolpe's contention that assertive responses are incompatible with anxiety and are effective in overcoming neurotic fear, the present study predicted an inverse relationship between assertiveness and anxiety. Two-hundred-and-fifty male and 200 female college undergraduates completed the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (RAS), a questionnaire measure of assertiveness. Males proved significantly (P < 0·001) more assertive than females. Based on the distribution of RAS scores, three discrete, noncontiguous groups (high, average and low assertive), comprising 86 subjects, were selected for further testing, which included the Maudsley Personality Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Fear Survey Schedule II. Analyses of variance confirmed that assertiveness relates inversely and highly significantly (P < 0·0005) with measures of neuroticism, trait anxiety and interpersonal anxiety for both males and females.

The ineffectiveness of systematic desensitization and assertive training in hospitalized schizophrenics

Article

Jul 1971
J BEHAV THER EXP PSY

Desensitization or assertive training or both were applied to 24 hospitalized schizophrenics who displayed phobias, lack of interpersonal assertiveness, or both. They received up to 18 treatment sessions. In none of the patients did desensitization produce any reduction of avoidance of the feared object. The assertive training produced minimal improvement in two patients that was maintained at a 6-month follow-up.

Sex Differences in the Perception of Assertiveness Among Female Managers

Article

Oct 1986

David L. Mathison

Women managers in the United States are often confronted with conflicting expectations of compliance and assertiveness. The present study focused on one aspect of this double-bind—men's and women's perceptions of the assertive woman. To investigate this question, source credibility scales were employed with open-end questions. In a laboratory setting, 93 mixed-sex subjects observed a target assertive woman and responded on a paper and pencil survey. Men reported positive perceptions of assertive communication in women. Women, however, reported negative perceptions of assertive women.

The Modification of Schizophrenic Behavior

Article

Oct 1979
BEHAV MODIF

Beverly Gomes-Schwartz

The literature on treatment of schizophrenic behavior through operant conditioning, token economy, systematic desensitization, and social skills training was reviewed. Results from these studies indicate that operant procedures (particularly token economy) and skills training techniques are useful in altering some of the behaviors characterizing schizophrenia-most notably the regressed functioning associated with the "social breakdown syndrome," and components of appropriate social interaction. However, generalization and maintenance of appropriate behaviors after the patient has left the treatment program are more problematic. Equivocal results obtained with operant treatments of vocal psychotic symptoms suggested the need for a more complex analysis of the factors which contribute to hallucinations and delusions, and perhaps increased exploration of the utility of cognitive-behavioral approaches. The practical and ethical issues raised by procedures which include punishment of violent behavior are discussed.

Reactions to assertive versus unassertive behavior: Differential effects for males and females and implications for assertiveness training

Article

Nov 1980
BEHAV THER

Although a great deal of clinical research attention has been directed toward assertiveness training, few studies have examined the social impact or interpersonal evaluation of assertive versus unassertive behavior, including the differential evaluation of assertiveness exhibited by males and females. In the present study, subjects observed a videotape showing a male or female stimulus model behaving either assertively or unassertively during four interactions similar to those used in assertiveness training research. Subjects then completed an interpersonal attraction inventory to evaluate the model they observed. Results indicated that while assertive models were viewed as skilled and able, they were given lower ratings on measures of likeability than unassertive models. Further, interaction effects indicated that assertive behavior exhibited by females resulted in more negative evaluations than the identical behavior in males.

A correlational investigation of anxiety, self-esteem and depression: New findings with behavioral measures of assertiveness

Article

Jun 1978
J BEHAV THER EXP PSY

The present study investigated the relationship between anxiety, self-esteem, depression and assertiveness in in-patient male alcoholics. Fifty-five of these subjects completed the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List, a paper-and-pencil test of anxiety and depression, and a self-esteem index. Assertive social skills were assessed behaviorally by role-playing standardized interpersonal situations. The results were interpreted as offering some support for the depression theories of Wolpe, Beck and Lewinsohn and strong support for Wolpe's hypothesis that anxiety is incompatible with assertive behavior. No evidence was found to support the contention that an assertive individual is more likely to feel positively about himself.

Clinical handbook of psychological disorders

Article

Jan 2001

D. H. Barlow

Assertiveness, Sex-Role Stereotyping, and Self-Concept

Article

May 1976

This study addressed the question of how the dimensions of sex-role stereotyping and self-concept relate to differences in assertiveness. On the basis of the responses of 61 male and 73 female undergraduate students to the (a) Rathus Assertiveness Schedule, (b) College Self-Expression Scale, (c) list of stereotypic items, and (d) Tennessee Self Concept Scale, it was found that in both sexes there was a positive relationship between assertiveness and favorableness of self-concept. Additionally, women low in sex-role stereotyping were significantly more assertive than men low in sex-role stereotyping, and women low in sex-role stereotyping had more positive self-concepts than men low in sex-role stereotyping.

Dimensions Across Measures of Dispositional Hostility, Expressive Style, and Depression Show Some Variation by Race/Ethnicity and Gender in Young Adults

Article

Dec 2009
J SOC CLIN PSYCHOL

We examined group differences on scale scores and principal components across hostility, assertiveness, and depression measures in 738 young adults (ages 18-30; 66% women; 39% White, 27% black, 25% Asian). on individual scales, men reported greater expressive hostility and cynicism, whereas women showed greater agreeableness and depression. Asians reported the least assertiveness and the greatest depression, whereas Blacks reported the least agreeableness and greatest negativism and verbal hostility. Across all measures, two expressive (antagonistic; assertive) and 2 experiential (cynical-depressive; brooding) hostility components were observed for most groups, with antagonism and assertion less discernable for whites, and Asians evidencing a distinct depression/guilt component. A 3-component model revealed antagonistic, brooding-cynical, and depressive components, with anger-in and (low) assertiveness both loading with depression in all groups but whites. The variable associations among assertiveness, depression, and hostility, and the potentially adaptive modes of anger expression observed, suggest important factors in conceptualizing and measuring hostility for research and clinical applications.

A comparison of skills training and cognitive restructuring-relaxation for the treatment of speech anxiety

Article

Mar 1978
BEHAV THER

This study compared public speaking skills training with cognitive restructuring-relaxation training for the treatment of speech anxiety. Interactions between type of clients and treatment outcome were also explored. In a 2×4 design, 57 speech-anxious undergraduates were divided at the median of the Social Anxiety and Distress Scale and assigned to one of four groups. The skills group used behavioral rehearsal and videotape feedback to increase voice inflection, rate, volume, eye contact, gestures, and speech organization. The cognitive restructuring-relaxation group learned coping statements and relaxation. Each treatment group met for five 1-hr sessions. Both the skills training and cognitive restructuring-relaxation groups significantly improved on one subjective and two behavioral measures of speech anxiety and improvements were maintained at a 2-month followup. Reductions in speech anxiety did not generalize to decreases in social anxiety. Discussion-placebo and waiting list groups improved slightly but did not differ from each other. Although the trends did not reach significance, interactions between clients and treatments suggest that the skills training was equally effective for subjects high and low in social anxiety, while cognitive restructuring-relaxation appears to be more effective for subjects high in social anxiety. To increse generalization of treatment effects, the integration of skills training and cognitive restructuring is proposed.

Consensus in Psychotherapy research and practice: Where have all the findings gone?

Article

Mar 2000

Marvin Goldfried

This article examines the issue of why the field of psychotherapy, now approximately 100 years old, has had difficulty in accumulating an agreed-upon body of clinical and research findings. Among the reasons discussed are the gap that exists between research and practice; the different theoretical approaches that have been taken in the attempt to understand psychotherapy; the language barriers that characterize the field; the changing nature of our research methodology; the value attached to contributions that are new; and the rules that govern scientific behavior. What is needed to build upon, rather than rediscover what we already know, is presented.

The effects of assertiveness training in patients with schizophrenia: a randomized, single-blind, controlled study

Article

Apr 2013
J ADV NURS

In this study, we investigated the effects of group assertiveness training on assertiveness, social anxiety and satisfaction with interpersonal communication among patients with chronic schizophrenia. Only limited studies highlighted the effectiveness of group assertiveness training among inpatients with schizophrenia. Given the lack of group assertiveness training among patients with schizophrenia, further development of programmes focusing on facilitating assertiveness, self-confidence and social skills among inpatients with chronic schizophrenia is needed. This study used a prospective, randomized, single-blinded, parallel-group design. This study employed a prospective, randomized, parallel-group design. Seventy-four patients were randomly assigned to experimental group receiving 12 sessions of assertiveness training, or a supportive control group. Data collection took place for the period of June 2009–July 2010. Among patients with chronic schizophrenia, assertiveness, levels of social anxiety and satisfaction with interpersonal communication significantly improved immediately after the intervention and at the 3-month follow-up in the intervention group. The results of a generalized estimating equation (GEE) indicated that: (1) assertiveness significantly improved from pre- to postintervention and was maintained until the follow-up; (2) anxiety regarding social interactions significantly decreased after assertiveness training; and (3) satisfaction with interpersonal communication slightly improved after the 12-session intervention and at the 3-month follow-up. Assertivenss training is a non-invasive and inexpensive therapy that appears to improve assertiveness, social anxiety and interpersonal communication among inpatients with chronic schizophrenia. These findings may provide a reference guide to clinical nurses for developing assertiveness-training protocols.

The effects of assertiveness training on couples' relationships

Article

Jan 1984

The effect of assertiveness training of one partner in a couple on both partner's perceptions of trust and intimacy in their relationship was assessed. Twenty-six assertiveness trainees and their 26 nonparticipating partners completed the Interpersonal Relationship Scale (IRS) pre- and posttraining. Eighteen persons who were on a waiting list for assertion training and their 18 partners also completed the IRS. Assertion trainees and their nonparticipating partners perceived significantly higher levels of trust and intimacy in their relationships following assertion training, compared to the waiting list control group. Non-participating partners did not significantly differ from assertion trainees in their perceptions of their relationships. Results suggest that assertion training of one partner in a couple has a positive effect on both partners' perceptions.

Introducing Assertiveness Training in Hungary

Article

Assertiveness Training: A Forgotten Evidence-Based Treatment

Abstract

No full-text available