The effect of an assertiveness training program for adolescents in residential care in South Korea

Abstract

This study assesses the effectiveness of an assertiveness training program on the emotional improvement of adolescents in residential care. The training programme was provided to 12 female adolescents and 12 others were in a control group. Forty-five items from the Korean Personality Inventory for Children (KPI-C) were used in measuring anxiety and depression. Pre and post analysis, as well as in-depth interviews, were conducted. The effect of the program was verified by the nonparametric testing methods, by the Mann Whitney U test and the Wilcoxon matched-pairs singled-ranks test. The findings are that, compared to the control group, the experimental group demonstrated a decrease in depression and anxiety.

Keywords::

• adolescents in residential care
• assertiveness training
• emotional improvement
• South Korea

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ji Myoung Jung

Mr. Jung is a Ph.D. student at Yonsei University, Graduate School of Social Welfare, Seoul, South Korea. His research interests are program evaluation, multicultural families, and TSL (Thank You Sorry Love) family therapy.