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In a Chinese sample of 208 the Big Five personality traits profile was compared for 104 assertive and 104 nonassertive students. While assertiveness was associated with higher scores on Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Openness, Nonassertiveness was associated with greater scores on Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. Implications of the findings for cross-cultural counselling were highlighted.
55 men and 55 women were administered Schill's Self-defeating Personality Scale, an argumentativeness scale, and a measure of assertive self-statements. Women with higher scores on the Self-defeating Personality Scale had lower scores on the argumentativeness scale. Both men and women scoring higher on the Self-defeating Personality Scale recalled having thoughts which inhibited them from making assertive statements. These results were discussed as supporting prior research showing that persons reporting more self-defeating characteristics were relatively unassertive.
The effects of milieu therapy plus assertion training were compared to those of milieu therapy plus human relations training in reducing drinking behavior and increasing interpersonal skills, of skill-deficient, chronic alcoholics in an alcoholic rehabilitation center. Although both treatments led to comparable sobriety rates at a 6-week follow-up, the treatment group which contained assertion training demonstrated significant gains in interpersonal skills as compared to the treatment group which contained human relations training. A 2-year sobriety significantly longer than the human relations training group.
The effect of assertively asking a smoker to refrain from smoking was investigated to determine if individuals could reduce their exposure to passive smoke with a simple request. The results showed that an assertive request was complied with in a significant number of interactions. The location where the request was made had a significant effect on whether the smoker complied or not to the request.
PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine the effects of an assertive training program on interpersonal relations, and psychiatric symptoms in patients with a mental disorder. METHOD: The study employed a quasi experimental design. The subjects included 44 patients with a mental disorder, 20 in the experimental group, and 24 in the control group. Data was collected using structured questionnaires over a 3 month period. RESULTS: There were greater significant increases in scores of interpersonal relations and content of communication in the experimental group than the control group. Also, there was a greater significant decrease in the score of psychiatric symptoms in the experimental group than the control group. CONCLUSION: Assertive training has an effect on increasing content of communication and decreasing psychiatric symptoms.
This article describes an action research project that highlighted reflective processes, so hospital nurses could work systematically through problem solving processes to uncover constraints against effective nursing care; and to improve the quality of their care in light of the identified constraints and possibilities. Four Registered Nurses (RNs) co-researched their practice with the facilitator and over the research period identified the thematic concern of the need for assertiveness in their work. The RNs planned, implemented and evaluated an action plan and, as a direct result of their reflections and collaborative action, they improved their nursing practice in relation to becoming more effective in assertiveness in work situations.
CONTEXT: Understanding young women's sexual assertiveness is critical to developing effective interventions to promote sexual health and reduce sexual risk-taking and violence. Young women's perception of their sexual rights may vary according to demographic characteristics, sexual health behaviors and victimization history. METHODS: Data were collected from 904 sexually active 14-26-year-old clients of two family planning clinics in Texas, reflecting their perceptions of their right to communicate expectations about or control aspects of their sexual encounters. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess which characteristics were independently associated with believing that one never has each specified sexual right. RESULTS: Almost 2096 of women believed that they never have the right to make their own decisions about contraception, regardless of their partner's wishes; to tell their partner that they do not want to have intercourse without birth control, that they want to make love differently or that their partner is being too rough; and to stop foreplay at any time, including at the point of intercourse. Poor grades in school, sexual inexperience, inconsistent contraceptive use and minority ethnicity were independently associated with lacking sexual assertiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Many sexually active young women perceive that they do not have the right to communicate about or control aspects of their sexual behavior. Interventions to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancy and coercive sexual behaviors should include strategies to evaluate and address these perceptions.
Nurses have been encouraged to speak out, to exert power and to stand up for their rights as well as the rights of patients. Yet in many cultures strong assertive women are accepted less readily by both men and other women. The question then is: How can nurses in a traditional society be helped to develop assertive behaviours? Based on their experience in Malawi and Nepal, the authors identify the factors influencing nonassertive behaviours and present a model to foster appropriate behaviours in nurses in these and similar countries.
Two types of assertiveness, the ability to refuse a demand or request and the ability to initiate a request or affirmatively express a need, were examined in a clinical sample of domestically violent men (N = 78) in contrast to a nonviolent comparison group (N = 29). No significant difference was found between the groups on refusal behavior. However, a significant difference was found on initiating/request behavior, the violent men evidencing lower scores than their nonviolent counterparts. Significant differences in anger and hostility were also apparent between groups. There was a significant and positive correlation between refusal behavior and overt anger/hostility. A significant and negative correlation was observed between initiating/request behavior and covert anger/hostility. The results support the presence of social skill deficits, which appear to be significantly related to anger and hostility in domestically violent men. The findings also suggest that domestically violent men have a more specific profile of assertiveness deficits than has been previously discussed in the literature.
Men who had assaulted their wives were compared to maritally conflicted (but nonassaultive) and satisfactorily married controls through the use of Thematic Apperception Test stories scored for the need for power. When the stimulus pictures showed ambiguous male-female relationships, the assaultive men generated higher need-for-power scores than the average of both control groups combined but did not differ from the maritally conflicted group on need for power. The assaultive men had lower spouse-specific assertiveness scores than either control group, however. A discriminant analysis based on need-for-power and assertiveness scores correctly classified the wife assaulters and maritally conflicted males 90% of the time. The resulting profile of assaultive men was of a group high in the need to exert power in relationships with women but lacking in the verbal resources to do so. It was hypothesized that this combination of a high need for power and a deficit in verbal ability to generate influence produces chronic frustration, which may increase the risk of violence when combined with other factors.
To be assertive, nurses need to realise they are worthy of respect. By discussing real situations, the author highlights assertiveness techniques and shows how they can benefit every nurse.
A controlled evaluation of an assertion training package for adolescent students is described. Adolescents who received the treatment were compared to adolescents who received a placebo-counseling program. Although there were no significant differences between the groups prior to the program, the students who received the assertion training treatment significantly improved their ratings on the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale both at termination and at a one-month follow-up. No effects were found on a locus of control scale or an anxiety scale for either program.
The authors try to answer the question of the nosological status of social phobias and assertiveness difficulties, which are usually included in the large group of anxious troubles. The correlation between Rathus Rating Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and sub-scores of HDRS were studied in two populations; the first one was constituted by anxious and/or depressed patients, the second, extracted from the first one, by anxious patients only. The results show that lack of assertiveness has probably both affective and anxious components. These results are important from a nosological and therapeutic point of view.
Background electrolytes (BGEs) prepared in pure organic solvents are common alternatives to aqueous BGEs in capillary electrophoresis. Several general advantages of organic solvents over water have been asserted in the literature, namely (i) organic solvents increase the separation selectivity; (ii) organic solvents increase the separation efficiency; (iii) high separation voltages and/or high BGE ionic strengths can be used in organic solvents due to lower electric current compared to water. Related assumptions are that (iv) due to higher field strengths applicable in organic solvents the analysis time is shorter than in aqueous BGEs, and (v) the solubility and/or stability of components (either analytes or BGE chemicals) is higher/better in organic solvents. In the present work, these asserted advantages were critically evaluated based on the physical principles of ion transport and zone dispersion in solution. The result was that many of the above-mentioned general advantages are overestimated or even inexistent; often they have no fundamental basis.
Despite growing interest in assessment of program implementation, little is known about the best way to evaluate whether a particular program has implemented the intended service to a level that is minimally acceptable to a funding source, such as a state mental health authority. Such is the case for assertive community treatment (ACT), an evidence-based practice being widely disseminated. Using an exploratory, actuarial approach to defining program standards, this study applies different statistical criteria for determining whether or not a program meets ACT standards using the 28-item Dartmouth Assertive Community Treatment Scale. The sample consists of 51 ACT programs, 25 intensive case management programs, and 11 brokered case management programs which were compared to identify levels of fidelity that discriminated between programs, but were still attainable by the majority of ACT programs. A grading system based on mean total score for a reduced set of 21 items appeared to be most attainable, but still discriminated ACT programs from other forms of case management. Implications for setting and evaluating ACT program standards are discussed.
BACKGROUND: Recent research indicates that early detection of young persons suffering from psychosis and subsequent intensive intervention enhances treatment response and prognosis, but the data are only preliminary and suggestive. METHOD: We present the rationale and design of the largest study to date to evaluate two major issues in the field of secondary prevention: (1) Does education and intensified collaboration with general practice, social services etc. reduce the duration of untreated psychosis? and (2) Can modified assertive community treatment improve the course and outcome in young persons suffering from psychosis as compared to treatment in community mental health centres? The article aims additionally to put the study in context and assist in designing future studies. RESULTS: Preliminary experiences are described. The findings of the first 312 patients show that modified assertive community treatment results in patients adhering to treatment significantly better than standard treatment in community mental health centres. CONCLUSION: The surge of interest in preventively oriented detection and treatment models for untreated psychosis in young people calls for research programmes and evidence. The obstacles to this are manifold. The initial findings of the OPUS study suggest, however, that better adherence to treatment is possible.
Background: Personal beliefs about sexual attitudes and rights likely affect reproductive health behaviors. We examined the prevalence and predictors of low sexual assertiveness (SA) among sexually active females across three age groups (14-17 yo, 18-21 yo, and 22-26 yo).Methods: 904 white, black, and Mexican-American females presenting at community-based family planning clinics in Southeast Texas between April 1997 and February 1998 completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire that assessed demographic and reproductive characteristics, dating behaviors, mental health measures and occurrence of physical and sexual assault. Subjects also completed a sexual assertiveness scale that assessed one's right to make various reproductive health decisions and sexual communications to partners. A total SA score was obtained by summing the 13 items; scores were then dichotomized so those scoring in the lowest quartile could be compared to the others. Data were analyzed using chi-square and logistic regression stratified by age group (244 aged 14-17; 392 aged 18-21; and 268 aged 22-26).Results: 27% of subjects aged 14-17, 22% aged 18-21, and 17% aged 22-26 were identified as having low SA. For 14-17 years olds, logistic regression analyses revealed that those with low SA as compared to adequate SA were significantly more likely to be Mexican American (OR = 4.8) or black (OR = 3.1) than white, to have hand </= 1 dating partner in the last 12 months (OR = 1.8), and to report inconsistent birth control in last 12 months (OR = 2.0). Among 18-21 years olds, low (SA) was related to reporting forced sexual contact in the last 12 months (OR = 5.2), moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (OR = 3. 0), no history of physical abuse (OR = 2.5), believing that your partner is monogomous (OR = 2.6), married or living with a male partner (OR = 2.1), </= 3 lifetime sexual partners (OR = 1.8), not using alcohol before sex (OR = 1.8), and gravidity >/= 1 (OR = 1.8). Among 22-26 years olds, low SA was associated with gravidity >/= 1 (OR = 2.8), being a high school dropout (OR = 2.1), and inconsistent birth control use in the last 12 months (OR = 1.9).Conclusions: These data suggest that 1 in 4 sexually active women report low SA and for two age groups these attitudes are associated with inconsistent contraception. Among 18-21 years olds, low SA is also associated with forced sexual contact and depressive symptoms. Thus, efforts to prevent unintended pregnancy and unwanted sexual contact may be more effective if individual levels of SA are taken into account.
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is an appealing community program model because it proposes to provide individuals with coping skills that allow them to maintain independent lives in their communities and it offers the potential to decrease inpatient stays and increase community tenure. But, it is not without its limitations. Critics point out that ACT's unique elements also make it a potentially very resource intensive program--an important consideration in times of fiscal constraints. Though the charge may be justified, there is little in the literature that actually quantifies the intensity of resources used. The process through which it achieves outcomes is not frequently described. Using ACT team workload information, we examine the time trade-offs--direct for indirect time--involved with implementing this model. In addition, we describe the specific activities that make up the direct and indirect time inputs that go into supporting clients in the community through assertive team oriented case management.