Effect of Assertiveness Training Technique on Social Maladjustment Among Secondary School Students in Imo State

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of assertiveness training technique on social adjustment among secondary school students in Imo State. Three research questions and three null hypotheses guided the study. Quasi-experimental research was adopted in carrying out the study. The population of the study was 397 JS2 and SS2 students identified with social maladjustment in all the public secondary schools in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, and the sample size was 89 students from the two sampled schools in Njaba. The sample was derived using multi-stage sampling procedure based on the number of coeducational schools that scored high on Social Adjustment Scale. The Social Adjustment Scale (SAS) was used for data collection. The instrument was reliable at 0.90 coefficient. Data relating to research questions were analyzed using statistical mean, while data relating to hypotheses were analyzed using Analysis of Co-Variance (ANCOVA). Findings from the study revealed that assertiveness training technique was significantly effective on social maladjustment among the secondary school students. More so, the findings indicated that assertiveness training technique was more effective on social maladjustment among male and junior students, respectively. Finally, the findings revealed that there was no significant difference in the effectiveness of assertiveness training technique on social maladjustment among students who participated in the experiment based on gender and class level. Based on the findings, researchers therefore recommended that teachers should carefully observe their students’ behaviours within the classroom setting and quickly refer the socially maladjusted ones to the school counsellor for professional assistance.