MANAGEMENT OF LOW SELF ESTEEM USING ASSERTIVENESS THERAPY

Abstract

This study employed Assertiveness Therapy in the management of low self-esteem. A total of forty diagnosed low self-esteem undergraduates randomly selected from Alvan Ikoku College of Education and Imo State University, all in Owerri, Imo State were used. They comprised 20 males and 20 females with an age range of 20 to 35 years. Hare Self-esteem Scale was used in selecting the low self-esteem participants and also in testing their level of low self-esteem three days after the administration of Assertiveness Therapy. It was hypothesized that Assertiveness Therapy will improve participants' self-esteem and also, age and gender of participants would influence the effect of Assertiveness Therapy on their low self-esteem. Based on the data collected and analyzed with the z-test statistics, it was discovered that Assertiveness Therapy significantly reduced low self-esteem. However, age and gender variables did not determine the effects of Assertiveness Therapy in the management of low self-esteem. The implications of the findings were discussed based on literature and recommendations made accordingly.