Effects of Assertiveness Training on Psychological Distress among Adolescent Girls: An Experimental Study Conducted in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of assertiveness training on psychological distress among adolescent girls of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. It was hypothesized that assertiveness training would decrease the psychological distress level of adolescent girls. It was quantitative research in which a quasi-experimental design was used. A purposive sampling technique was used to collect a sample of 53 college girls, which, after attrition, was reduced to a final sample of 44 (experimental group=21 & control group=23) with an age range of 14-18. Results of a paired-sample t-test showed a reduction in psychological-distress level within the experimental group; however, no difference was observed in the control group. An independent sample t-test revealed that assertiveness training had a significant moderate effect in reducing psychological distress (d=0.71) among adolescent girls in the experimental group. Findings of this research would help in designing and implementing school-based interventions for youth.