Effect of Assertiveness Training on General Health in First year Students of Tabriz University
Subject Areas : psychology
1 - Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran
Keywords: Assertiveness training, General health,
Abstract :
Abstract: Mental health is one of the most important issues in psychology which is influenced by many factors and affects one’s performance. The present research was carried out to study effectiveness of the assertiveness training program on general health in the first year students of Tabriz University. It had a pretest-posttest experimental design with a control group and repeated measures. Four faculties were selected through cluster random sampling, and freshmen from each faculty completed the Yulee Assertiveness Question-naire (1985). According to the purposeful sampling method, 40 students who obtained the least scores for assertiveness, were chosen and divided into experimental and control groups through random assignment. They signed informed consent forms and completed the Rathus Assertiveness scale and General Health Questionnaire (pretest). Results of independent t-tests showed no significant difference between assertiveness of the groups. Then, the experimental group received assertiveness training program which was a 90- minute session per week for 8 successive weeks. Again, at the end of the training program (post test), and also at the two month follow up, members of the two groups completed the GHQ. Data were analyzed by the SPSS statistical software and using Repeated Measure of Variance. Findings showed: Assertiveness training program had positive effects on general health, physical health, anxiety, social performance, and depression (P<0.01). On the basis of the results of the LSD Test, effect of the experimental treatment was stable (P<0.01). Finally, Assertiveness training is suggested as a common program to improve freshmen’s general health in all universities including first year students of Tabriz University.