A Study on the Assessment of the Efficacy of the Assertiveness and Self-Esteem Skill Training Among Adolescents in a Select School in Nadia, West Bengal

Abstract

social changes. Adolescents are more susceptible to stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, aggressive behaviour, and substance abuse because of emotional instability, family dynamics, and peer influence. Assertive skill and self-esteem training is a structured psychological intervention that helps the individual to express their feelings, emotions, and needs in the right way. Assertiveness and self-esteem training enables adolescents to develop important life skills that help them adjust to peer pressure and social expectations, foster interpersonal relationships, and enhance overall mental well-being. A pre-experimental pre-test post-test research design was used in this study. 40 (forty) adolescents were selected from a selected school in Nadia district. The ‘Rosenberg self-esteem scale’ was adopted to assess self-esteem, and the ‘Rathus assertiveness schedule’ was adopted to assess assertiveness. The present study found that, before administration, only 15% of adolescents had a moderate assertiveness level, and 85% were non-assertive, whereas only 20% had normal self-esteem and 80% had low self-esteem. After the administration of the skill training programme, the levels of assertiveness and self-esteem increased by 87.5% and 92.5%, respectively. This study concludes the need to conduct an assertive skill and self-esteem training programme to increase the assertive level and to prevent adolescents emotional and behavioural problems that are related to low self-esteem and assertiveness in schools. So, school is an ideal place for the prompt detection and management of adolescent problems and the implementation of an assertive skill and self-esteem training programme.