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To study the relationship between self-esteem and assertiveness among female adolescents in single sex school

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between self-esteem and assertiveness among female students, reinforcing the idea that assertiveness and self-esteem are two distinct constructs. While self-esteem fosters confidence, it does not inherently equip individuals with the necessary communication abilities to be assertive. Instead, assertiveness is a skill that requires deliberate practice and development. Using the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, data were analyzed through Spearman’s Rank correlation to assess the relationship between self-esteem and assertiveness. The results indicated no significant relationship between assertiveness and self-esteem (r = 0.121, p = 0.229; ρ = 0.093, p = 0.358), suggesting that external socialization factors contribute to their independent development. These findings highlight the importance of structured training programs aimed at enhancing assertiveness through targeted interventions. This study reinforces the idea that assertiveness and self-esteem are two distinct constructs. The results indicate that assertiveness is a skill that needs deliberate practice rather than an inherent result of high self-esteem, despite the fact that self-esteem is frequently seen as a crucial factor of assertiveness.

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To study the relationship between self-esteem and assertiveness among female adolescents in single sex school

Author: Emmanuval, Sangithabanu; Britto, Fr. J. John
Publisher: Zenodo
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17256717
Source: https://zenodo.org/records/17256717/files/WJARR-2025-1362.pdf
 Co esponding au ho : Sangi habanu Emmanu al
Copy igh © 2025 Au ho (s) e ain he copy igh o his a icle. This a icle is published unde he e ms o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion Liscense 4.0.
To s udy he ela ionship be ween sel -es eem and asse i eness among emale
adolescen s in single sex school
Sangi habanu Emmanu al * and F . J. John B i o
Depa men o Psychology a
anug aha Ins i u e o Social Sciences, Nochiodaipa i, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu 624003, India.
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 26(01), 2765-2772
Publica ion his o y: Recei ed on 11 Ma ch 2025; e ised on 19 Ap il 2025; accep ed on 21 Ap il 2025
A icle DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.30574/wja .2025.26.1.1362
Abs ac
This s udy explo es he ela ionship be ween sel -es eem and asse i eness among emale s uden s, ein o cing he idea
ha asse i eness and sel -es eem a e wo dis inc cons uc s. While sel -es eem os e s con idence, i does no
inhe en ly equip indi iduals wi h he necessa y communica ion abili ies o be asse i e. Ins ead, asse i eness is a skill
ha equi es delibe a e p ac ice and de elopmen .
Using he Ra hus Asse i eness Schedule and he Rosenbe g Sel -Es eem Scale, da a we e analyzed h ough Spea man’s
Rank co ela ion o assess he ela ionship be ween sel -es eem and asse i eness. The esul s indica ed no signi ican
ela ionship be ween asse i eness and sel -es eem ( = 0.121, p = 0.229; ρ = 0.093, p = 0.358), sugges ing ha ex e nal
socializa ion ac o s con ibu e o hei independen de elopmen . These indings highligh he impo ance o
s uc u ed aining p og ams aimed a enhancing asse i eness h ough a ge ed in e en ions.
This s udy ein o ces he idea ha asse i eness and sel -es eem a e wo dis inc cons uc s. The esul s indica e ha
asse i eness is a skill ha needs delibe a e p ac ice a he han an inhe en esul o high sel -es eem, despi e he ac
ha sel -es eem is equen ly seen as a c ucial ac o o asse i eness.
Keywo ds: Sel -es eem; Asse i eness; Female Adolescence; Ra hus Asse i eness Schedule; Rosenbe g Sel -Es eem
Scale
1. In oduc ion
1.1. Gene al In oduc ion
Adolescence is a o ma i e de elopmen al phase cha ac e ized by deep changes in social, emo ional, and psychological
elemen s o li e. A his s age, one de elops his/he iden i y and cons uc s his/he sel -concep , which has a signi ican
impac on subsequen in e pe sonal ela ionships and pe sonal de elopmen . Sel -es eem and asse i eness a e wo
impo an psychological concep s ha ha e a c i ical ole in building adolescen de elopmen . Sel -es eem desc ibes an
indi idual's o e all sense o compe ence and sel -con idence in one's capabili ies, and asse i eness desc ibes he abili y
o s a e one's needs, wishes, and eelings in clea , hones , and espec ul ways (Rosenbe g, 1965; Sha iq e al., 2015).
Bo h quali ies a e necessa y in eenage s because hey enable one o es ablish bounda ies, ge along in in e pe sonal
in e ac ions, and de elop a good sel -concep .
1.2. Sel -Es eem: De ini ion and Signi icance
Sel -es eem is a basic psychological cons uc ha a ec s how people iew hemsel es and hei alue. Posi i e sel -
es eem is linked o highe emo ional s eng h, con idence, and well-being, while low sel -es eem can esul in eelings
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 26(01), 2765-2773
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o inadequacy, wo y, and dep ession (Madu e al., 2023). Heal hy sel -es eem allows eenage s o p ac ice posi i e
beha io s, con on ad e si y wi h op imism, and es ablish heal hy ela ionships (Baumeis e e al., 2003). On he o he
hand, low sel -es eem may lead o maladap i e beha io s such as social wi hd awal and in e nalized wo hlessness
(C ocke & Wol e, 2001). The signi icance o sel -es eem du ing adolescence canno be o e emphasized since i is he
basis o emo ional con ol, decision-making, and social ela ionships.
1.3. Asse i eness: De ini ion and Role in Adolescen De elopmen
Asse i eness is he skill o exp ess onesel , hough s, eelings, and needs openly and hones ly wi hou in inging on
o he s' igh s. Asse i eness is a i al skill in e ec i e communica ion, con lic esolu ion, and se ing up heal hy
bounda ies. Asse i e beha io is unlike passi e and agg essi e beha io s. Passi e people ha e a endency no o
exp ess hei needs, esul ing in us a ion and esen men , while agg essi e people will o en o e look o he s' igh s
while seeking hei own needs (Sha iq e al., 2015). Asse i eness, on he o he hand, en ails inding a balance be ween
being able o s and up o onesel while s ill espec ing o he s.
1.4. The Role o Gende and Educa ional En i onmen
Adolescence is a ime o sel -disco e y, and socializa ion based on gende du ing his pe iod signi ican ly con ibu es o
he de elopmen o sel -es eem and asse i eness. Gi ls a e discou aged by he adi ional gende no ms om being
asse i e, as such beha io is pe cei ed as being inapp op ia e o unladylike (Eagly & Ka au, 2002). This no ma i e
expec a ion o ms a hind ance o success ul sel -exp ession and sel -ad ocacy and u he adds o lowe sel -es eem as
well as suscep ibili y o pee p essu e.
Single-sex schools o e a pa icula se ing o esea ch in o he eme gence o sel -es eem and asse i eness. In single-
sex se ings, gi ls a e subjec o ewe gende ed expec a ions and social p essu es and a e he e o e be e able o y
ou asse i eness mo e openly. I has been a gued in some esea ch ha single-sex schooling will p oduce be e g ades
and inc eased emale sel -es eem in school because wi hou boys he e can be less con o mi y o adi ional no ions o
eminini y (Ho s ede, 2001).
1.5. The Need o he S udy
Spi e o he impo ance o asse i eness and sel -es eem, ew s udies ha e explo ed he associa ion be ween hese wo
a iables in adolescen gi ls, especially wi hin single-sex schools. Mos a ailable li e a u e d aws conclusions om
mixed-gende g oups o adul popula ions wi hou add essing he pa icula i ies o adolescen gi ls' expe iences in
single-sex schooling se ings. Mo eo e , hough esea ch on sel -es eem and asse i eness among adolescen s is
ex ensi e, he ela ionship be ween hese cha ac e is ics and how hey a ec one ano he wi hin gende -speci ic
educa ional en i onmen s is no well esea ched
1.6. Resea ch Me hods
This chap e p o ides he esea ch design used o explo e he ela ionship be ween asse i eness and sel -es eem o
emale adolescen s a ending single-sex schools. The chap e p o ides a s ep-by-s ep explana ion o he esea ch design,
hypo heses, a iables, sample selec ion p ocess, da a collec ion ins umen s, and s a is ical analysis plan used in his
s udy. The e has been a sys ema ic and scien i ic app oach ollowed so ha alid and eliable esul s would be ob ained,
which will enable he esea che o answe he esea ch ques ions in his s udy.
1.7. Topic o he S udy
The esea ch aims o explo e he ela ionship be ween asse i eness and sel -es eem among emale eenage s in single-
sex schools. The main objec i e is o de e mine he impac o sel -es eem on asse i e beha io wi hin his g oup o
eenage s, which is usually ma ginalized in s udies. The explo a ion o his ela ionship will assis in p o iding insigh s
in o how eenage s' pe cep ion o hemsel es can in luence hei exp ession o con idence and asse i eness.
1.8. Resea ch Objec i es
The esea ch is guided by gene al and speci ic objec i es. The gene al aim is o explo e sel -es eem and asse i eness
among emale adolescen school-going s uden s in single-sex schools. In u he ou lining he di ec ion o he s udy, he
ollowing speci ic objec i es we e o mula ed:
• To assess he le el o sel -es eem among school-going emale adolescen s.
• To e alua e hei asse i eness le els.
• To explo e he ela ionship be ween sel -es eem and asse i eness in his con ex .
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 26(01), 2765-2773
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1.9. Resea ch Hypo heses
The esea ch is ounded on he ollowing hypo heses:
• H1: The e will be a s ong associa ion be ween asse i eness and sel -es eem among emale eenage s in single-
sex schools.
• H2: The e will be no any no ewo hy co ela ion be ween sel -es eem and asse i eness in emale adolescen s
a ending single-sex schools.
2. Ma e ial and Me hod
2.1. Resea ch Design
The esea ch design employed in his s udy is a mix o c oss-sec ional and compa a i e designs. The c oss-sec ional
design enables he s udy o explo e he associa ion be ween sel -es eem and asse i eness a a poin in ime, gi ing a
snapsho o he p e ailing condi ions among he s udy popula ion. The compa a i e design also acili a es he
compa ison o sel -es eem and asse i eness le els among a ious subg oups o emale adolescen s in single-sex
schools. This is a e y help ul design since i makes i possible o explo e ela ionships and di e ences wi hou a iable
manipula ion.
2.2. Popula ion and Sample
The popula ion unde his s udy is emale adolescen s aged be ween 16 and 17 yea s who a end single-sex schools. A
sample o 100 emale s uden s was andomly d awn om S . Dominic Gi ls Highe Seconda y School in Pe ambalu ,
Tamil Nadu
2.3. Sampling Technique
The esea ch used a simple andom sampling me hod, which p o ided each pa icipan wi h an equal and independen
p obabili y o being chosen om he popula ion.
2.4. S udy Va iables
The main independen a iable o his esea ch is sel -es eem, as an indi idual's gene al judgmen abou hei wo h
and con idence. Sel -es eem is di ided in o wo pa s: sel -es eem ai , o he usual amoun o sel -es eem, and sel -
es eem s a us, o he ansi o y expe ience o sel -es eem. Asse i eness, he dependen a iable, is being de ined as
one's abili y o exp ess onesel i mly, namely his/he needs, desi es, and eelings. I equi es e ec i e communica ion
and he capaci y o speak up o onesel in mos si ua ions.
2.5. Socio-Demog aphic De ails
The esea ch also ga he ed socio-demog aphic da a om he pa icipan s such as name, age, gende , educa ion, bi h
o de , ype o amily, esiden ial place, and numbe o amily membe s who eside in he household. Such in o ma ion
is impo an in gaining insigh s in o he la ge con ex wi hin which asse i eness and sel -es eem a e buil . Family
s uc u e, esiden ial place, and bi h o de ha e been ound o impac pe sonal ai s such as asse i eness and sel -
es eem. Th ough ga he ing hese socio-demog aphic in o ma ion, he esea ch aims o place he indings in o con ex
and gain a be e unde s anding o how sel -es eem and asse i eness ela e in emale adolescen s in single-sex schools.
2.6. Measu emen Tools
The sel -es eem and asse i eness da a we e ob ained using wo s anda dized psychome ic scales. The Rosenbe g Sel -
Es eem Scale (RSES) c ea ed by Rosenbe g in 1965 is a 10-i em measu e in ended o assess gene al sel -es eem. The
i ems a e sco ed on a 4-poin Like scale, wi h he esponse op ions anging om "S ongly Ag ee" o "S ongly
Disag ee." The scale has a high eliabili y coe icien o α = 0.92 and has demons a ed excellen s abili y wi h es - e es
co ela ions o = 0.85 o 0.88. The ange o he o al sco e is 10 o 40, and a sco e o 30 o mo e sugges s high sel -
es eem, while a sco e o 15 o less sugges s low sel -es eem. I ems 2, 5, 6, 8, and 9 a e e e se-sco ed o ensu e
consis ency in he di ec ion o esponse.
The Ra hus Asse i eness Schedule (RAS), c ea ed by Ra hus in 1973, is a 30-i em ques ionnai e used o assess asse i e
beha io . I ems a e a ed on a 6-poin Like scale, om "Ve y much like me" o "Ve y much unlike me." The RAS has
been shown o be highly eliable wi h spli -hal eliabili y o = 0.77 and alidi y co ela ions om = 0.33 o 0.62. RAS
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 26(01), 2765-2773
2768
sco es ange om 30 o 180, and sco es o 1-60 e lec non-asse i eness, 61-120 e lec mild asse i eness, and 121-
180 e lec high asse i eness.
2.7. Da a Collec ion P ocedu e
Da a collec ion was conduc ed du ing he hi d week o Augus 2024. In o med consen was secu ed om all
pa icipan s p io o s a ing he su ey. The ques ionnai e consis ed o socio-demog aphic in o ma ion, ollowed by
he sel -es eem and asse i eness scales. Pa icipan s we e asked o answe he scales u h ully and we e p o ided
wi h su icien ime o espond. The whole p ocess ook abou 20-30 minu es, and all esponses we e ga he ed a he
end o he session. The pa icipan s we e hanked o hei pa icipa ion and coope a ion.
2.8. S a is ical Analysis
The da a ob ained we e compu ed using Spea man Rank Co ela ion Coe icien o iden i y he di ec ion and s eng h
o he associa ion be ween sel -es eem and asse i eness. The Mann-Whi ney U es was also applied o examine any
no ewo hy di e ences in sel -es eem and asse i eness depending on socio-demog aphic ac o s. These s a is ical
analyses enable he de e mina ion o signi ican pa e ns and ela ionships in he da a, which a e examined in he
subsequen chap e .
3. Resul s
3.1. In oduc ion
The s a is ical analyses conduc ed o examine he ela ionship among asse i eness (RA), sel -es eem (RS), and
demog aphic a iables such as age a e epo ed in his chap e . The analyses in ol e desc ip i e s a is ics, es s o
assump ions, and in e en ial s a is ical es s o iden i y pa e ns, ela ionships, and s a is ical signi icance be ween he
s udy a iables. A sys ema ic app oach is adop ed o ensu e me hodological p ecision and igo and cla i y o epo ing.
Then, assump ion es s a e conduc ed o de e mine he app op ia eness o in e en ial es s. This in ol es no mali y
es ing o es ablish whe he pa ame ic o non-pa ame ic s a is ical p ocedu es should be used. The ou comes o hese
assump ion es s in o m he choice o he in e en ial analyses employed o es ela ionships be ween RS and RA
Pea son's and Spea man's co ela ion coe icien s a e some o he co ela ion es s shown in he in e en ial analysis
sec ion o de e mine he co ela ion be ween asse i eness and sel -es eem. The discussion and conclusion sec ion ends
by in e p e ing he indings in ela ion o exis ing esea ch, highligh ing key indings, and p o iding ecommenda ions
o u he s udy.
3.2. Sociodemog aphic Cha ac e is ics
The demog aphic de ails o he s udy pa icipan s a e shown in his sec ion. The sample consis ed o 100 emale
pa icipan s in o al. Gende -based compa isons and g oup-based s a is ical analyses (such as - es s, ANOVA, o Mann-
Whi ney U es s) we e no possible because he e we e no male pa icipan s. Fu he mo e, all pa icipan s we e in he
same socioeconomic g oup, which limi ed he applicabili y o economic backg ound-based s a is ical compa isons.
The homogenei y o socioeconomic class and gende made i impossible o compa e g oups using g oup-based
in e en ial es s, which no mally ask o a iabili y in ca ego ical da a. The s udy did no employ - es s, ANOVA, o hei
non-pa ame ic coun e pa s, such as he Mann-Whi ney U es o he K uskal-Wallis es , because all o he pa icipan s
we e in he same socioeconomic g oup and we e o he same gende .
Table 1 Sociodemog aphic Cha ac e is ics o Pa icipan s
Va iable
Ca ego ies
F equency (n)
Pe cen age (%)
Gende
Female
100
100.0
Socioeconomic S a us
Single ca ego y (No a iabili y)
100
100.0
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Since in e en ial es s in ol ing g oup compa isons we e no easible, he s udy ocused on analyzing ela ionships
be ween con inuous a iables, speci ically sel -es eem (RS) and asse i eness (RA). The lack o di e si y in gende and
socioeconomic s a us limi s he gene alizabili y o hese indings, making i di icul o d aw conclusions abou gende -
based o socioeconomic in luences on sel -es eem and asse i eness.
3.3. Dis ibu ion Analysis
In addi ion o gende and socioeconomic s a us, he age dis ibu ion o he pa icipan s was examined.
Table 2 p esen s he equency dis ibu ion o age in he sample.
Table 2 F equency Dis ibu ion o Age
Age
F equency (n)
Pe cen age (%)
14
7
7.0
15
32
32.0
16
30
30.0
17
29
29.0
18
2
2.0
To al
100
100.0
The age dis ibu ion o he pa icipan s was ela i ely balanced, wi h he majo i y (91%) alling be ween he ages o 15
and 17. The mos equen age was 15 yea s (32% o he sample), ollowed by 16 (30%) and 17 (29%). The smalles
ep esen a ion was om pa icipan s aged 18 (2%) and 14 (7%).
Unde s anding he age dis ibu ion is impo an because i helps in e alua ing whe he he indings a e applicable o a
b oade adolescen popula ion. Since mos pa icipan s a e aged 15 o 17, he s udy esul s p ima ily e lec
asse i eness and sel -es eem ends among mid-adolescen s and may no be gene alizable o olde o younge age
g oups.
3.4. Measu es o Cen al Tendency and Dispe sion
Desc ip i e s a is ics p o ide an o e iew o he dis ibu ion o he key s udy a iables. Measu es o cen al endency
(mean, median, and mode) and dispe sion (s anda d de ia ion, in e qua ile ange) a e c ucial o unde s anding da a
beha io be o e applying in e en ial es s.
Table 3 Desc ip i e S a is ics
Va iable
Mean
Median
Mode
S anda d De ia ion
IQR
Age
15.87
16.00
15
0.98
2.00
RS
21.97
22.00
20
3.12
4.00
RA
99.98
100.00
104
10.37
15.25
RS = Sel -Es eem, RA = Asse i eness, IQR = In e qua ile Range
The ages o he pa icipan s we e sp ead wi h a mean o 15.87 yea s (SD = 0.98), a median o 16, and a mode o 15.
These numbe s e lec ha he sample consis ed mos ly o young indi iduals, wi h a sligh bias owa ds he lowe age
g oup. The age dis ibu ion o he sample seems o be highly homogeneous, as e lec ed by he low s anda d de ia ion,
which means ha he majo i y o he pa icipan s' ages we e close o he mean.
Fo asse i eness (RA) and sel -es eem (RS), he a e age RS sco e was 21.97 (SD = 3.12), while he a e age RA sco e
was 99.98 (SD = 10.37). Pa icipan s in he s udy we e mo e sp ead ou in e ms o asse i eness han in e ms o sel -
es eem, as e idenced by he g ea e s anda d de ia ion in RA (10.37) e sus RS (3.12), which sugges s ha sco es on
asse i eness we e mo e sp ead ou ac oss pa icipan s.

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3.5. Va iabili y and Dis ibu ion Cha ac e is ics
To see u he in o he dissemina ion o sco es, he in e qua ile ange (IQR) was compa ed. The IQR o RA (15.25) was
g ea e han ha o RS (4.00), again es ablishing ha RA displayed a b oade middle 50% ange, e lec ing mo e
a iabili y among pa icipan s. The coe icien o a ia ion was also in es iga ed, indica ing low a iabili y in age
(0.062) and RA (0.104), wi h RS (0.142) ha ing somewha mo e a iabili y. This indica es ha RA and age sco es we e
somewha consis en ac oss he sample, bu RS had mo e a iabili y be ween subjec s.
3.6. Implica ions o In e en ial Tes ing
The assessmen o da a no malcy, which guides he choice o sui able in e en ial es s, depends hea ily on measu es o
cen al endency and dispe sion. To assu e he alidi y o s a is ical esul s, non-pa ame ic es s like Spea man's
co ela ion a e a o ed o e pa ame ic es s when da a de ia es g ea ly om no mali y, as is he case wi h RS. On he
o he hand, i addi ional condi ions we e sa is ied, pa ame ic app oaches migh be used o e alua e RA, which had a
mo e no mal dis ibu ion.
3.7. Assump ion Tes ing
To make su e he da a sa is ies he equi emen s o s a is ical analysis, assump ion es ing is an essen ial phase in he
esea ch p ocess. The ollowing a e some ypical p esump ions and es s: independence, homogenei y o a iance,
linea i y, and he no mali y es . Resea che s may make su e ha hei s a is ical analysis is legi ima e and dependable
and ha hei esul s a e suppo ed by solid da a by es ing hei hypo heses.
3.7.1. No mali y Tes ing
Da a is assumed o be egula ly dis ibu ed o s a is ical es s like Pea son's co ela ion. The Shapi o-Wilk es was
used o assess asse i eness (RA), sel -es eem (RS), and age no malcy.
Table 4 No mali y Tes Resul s
Va iable
Shapi o-Wilk S a is ic
p- alue
Age
0.888
< .001
RS
0.974
0.042
RA
0.992
0.811
RS=Sel -Es eem, RA=Asse i eness,
The Shapi o-Wilk es indica ed ha RA ollowed a no mal dis ibu ion (W = 0.992, p = 0.811), while age (W = 0.888, p
< .001) and RS (W = 0.974, p = 0.042) signi ican ly de ia ed om no mali y. A p- alue below 0.05 sugges s ha he da a
signi ican ly de ia es om a no mal dis ibu ion.
Since RS and age did no mee he assump ion o no mali y, non-pa ame ic co ela ion es s (Spea man’s co ela ion)
we e chosen o e Pea son’s co ela ion. Selec ing an inapp op ia e es (such as using Pea son’s co ela ion o non-
no mal da a) can lead o biased and misleading esul s.
3.8. In e en ial Analysis
Since gende and socioeconomic compa isons we e no possible, in e en ial analysis ocused on examining he
associa ion be ween sel -es eem (RS) and asse i eness (RA) using co ela ion es s.
Table 5 Co ela ion Analysis
Co ela ion Type
S a is ic
p- alue
Pea son Co ela ion (RS s RA)
0.121
0.229
Spea man Co ela ion (RS s RA)
0.093
0.358
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The Pea son co ela ion coe icien ( = 0.121, p = 0.229) showed a weak and s a is ically non-signi ican co ela ion
be ween asse i eness and sel -es eem. Likewise, he Spea man co ela ion coe icien (ρ = 0.093, p = 0.358) also did
no show a s ong co ela ion be ween hese a iables.
Because he p- alue was highe han 0.05, he co ela ion was no s a is ically signi ican , i.e., he e is no s ong e idence
o indica e an associa ion be ween RS and RA in his sample. These indings align wi h p io s udies sugges ing ha
asse i eness and sel -es eem may de elop independen ly due o ex e nal socializa ion ac o s (Smi h e al., 2023).
4. Discussions
The indings o his esea ch cas skep icism on he popula belie ha asse i eness inc eases in di ec a io o sel -
es eem. Al hough asse i eness is a beha io al mani es a ion in luenced by a complica ed in e play o social,
psychological, and cul u al a iables, sel -es eem is a measu e o a pe son's subjec i e sense o wo h. This esea ch
disco e ed a limi ed co ela ion be ween asse i eness and sel -es eem, e ealing ha asse i e beha io is g ea ly
in luenced by o he media ing a iables. This is in line wi h Deci and Ryan's (2000) Sel -De e mina ion Theo y, which
assumes ha compe ence and au onomy, and no solely sel -es eem, ha e s onge co ela es wi h asse i eness.
These indings equi e a e-examina ion o in e en ion s a egies ha assume asse i eness would eme ge na u ally
as sel -es eem inc eases. Ins ead, asse i e beha io migh be mo e closely associa ed wi h he eme gence o social
adap a ion, emo ional in elligence, and communica ion compe ency. The esul s also unde sco e he impo ance o
con ex ual and cul u al ac o s, sugges ing ha asse i eness canno be expec ed o eme ge na u ally om pe sonally
pe cei ed con idence bu ins ead mus be encou aged h ough sys ema ic lea ning expe iences.
4.1. Resea ch Findings
This esea ch in es iga es he in e ne , communica ion skills, emo ional in elligence, and cul u al no ms and hei
e ec s on adolescen asse i e beha io . The esea ch will c ea e a mo e de ined pic u e o social skills and sel -
de elopmen by decoupling asse i eness om sel -es eem. Acco ding o he esea ch, ins ead o a emp ing o boos
sel -es eem pe se, counseling needs o ocus on cons uc ing e ec i e p ac ice (Goleman, 1995). The esea ch gi en
also implies he need o conduc u he esea ch among o he age g oups and in o he online se ings o de e mine
scien i ically based me hods o de eloping asse i e beha io in pe sonal and wo k se ings (Johnson & Ca e , 2024).
Following he di ec ion o Chap e 4, he sel -es eem (RS) and asse i eness (RA) a iables ha e glancing and
s a is ically insigni ican ela ionships which ein o ces he a gumen ha hese wo cons uc s’ may e ol e on hei
own (Pea son = 0.121, p = 0.229; Spea man ρ = 0.093, p = 0.358). I is possible ha sel -es eem gi es someone he
con idence, whe eas asse i eness is mo e dependen on in e pe sonal skills and o he ac o s which is consis en wi h
p e ious sel -s udies which s a e ha asse i eness is a mul i ace ed beha io (Smi h e al., 2023).
4.2. Sugges ions
Communica ion T aining: Schools and educa ional p og ams should include asse i eness aining ha ocuses on
e ec i e e bal and non e bal communica ion (Smi h e al., 2023). Acco ding o he esul s, asse i eness aining
p og ams should concen a e on de eloping skills a he han jus inc easing sel -es eem.
In eg a ion o Emo ional In elligence De elopmen : T aining in emo ional egula ion and empa hy should be a pa o
adolescen de elopmen p og ams in o de o enhance social compe ence (Maye e al., 2008). Success ul sel -
exp ession and social si ua ional nego ia ion ely o a g ea deg ee on emo ional in elligence, and imp o ing hose skills
migh enhance asse i eness wi hou impac ing sel -es eem.
4.3. Implica ions
The s udy's conclusions ha e signi ican ami ica ions o educa ional me hods, psychological heo ies, and in e en ion
echniques. I challenges he assump ion ha highe sel -es eem au oma ically ansla es in o inc eased asse i eness
(Eagly & Ka au, 2002). Since asse i eness equi es a a ie y o social and communica ion skills, in e en ions should
no only concen a e on inc easing sel -es eem bu also on de eloping impo an abili ies like communica ion and
emo ional in elligence (Goleman, 1995).
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2772
Limi a ions
The e a e a ew limi a ions o his esea ch. One o hem is homogenei y o he sample since i only en olled emale eens
om one socioeconomic s a us. Lack o demog aphic he e ogenei y es ic s gene alizabili y o esul s o a ious
g oups, pa icula ly male eens and indi iduals o a ious economic and cul u al backg ounds (Chen e al., 2020).
5. Conclusion
This s udy suppo s he belie ha asse i eness and sel -es eem a e dis inc no ions. F om he indings, asse i eness
eme ges as a compe ence equi ing conscious p ac ice as opposed o a na u al consequence o high sel -es eem,
al hough sel -es eem has been o en conside ed o be an impo an componen o asse i eness. This unde s anding o
his di e ence is impo an in planning e ec i e in e en ions ha can ac ually enhance he social compe ence o
adolescen s.
The esea ch unde sco es he impo ance o digi al li e acy, emo ional in elligence, and s uc u ed communica ion
aining as key elemen s in acili a ing asse i eness. Adolescen s should be p o ided wi h e ec i e skills o manage
social si ua ions con iden ly and e hically. To p o ide young indi iduals wi h he esou ces necessa y o gain hese
essen ial li e skills, educa o s and lawmake s mus conside adding asse i eness aining o he exis ing cu iculum.
Socie y can p epa e adolescen s mo e e ec i ely o social and wo king ela ionships by shi ing he ocus away om
sel -es eem-building alone and owa d a mo e comp ehensi e app oach ha in ol es skill-building. Asse i eness is a
c i ical and lea nable skill enabling indi iduals o e ec i ely exp ess hemsel es while s ill being espec ul o o he s?
I is no he p oduc o con idence alone. To help adolescen s h i e in di e se social and occupa ional se ings, i is
essen ial ha esea che s, educa o s, and policymake s collabo a e o de elop e idence-based models ha acili a e he
sys ema ic de elopmen o asse i eness among adolescen s.
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