Date of Award
1993
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Abstract
This study investigated the differential effectiveness of a computer-assisted assertiveness training program and a traditional assertiveness training group on the self-esteem of pregnant teenagers and adolescent mothers. Self-esteem was defined as a multidimensional construct consisting of the following elements: global self-esteem, performance or agentic self-esteem, behavioral self-esteem, assertiveness, and aggressiveness. A total of 37 subjects participated in the study and produced valid scores on the posttreatment measures--16 in the computer-assisted group (7 pregnant, 9 parenting) and 21 in the traditional group (8 pregnant, 13 parenting). Treatment for the computer-assisted group extended for eight weeks and consisted of a weekly, 30-45 minute "session" with a highly interactive cognitive-behavioral program called HELP-Assert (CATSCO, 1989). Computer subjects also attended a weekly, 10-15 minute question-and-answer session to deal with issues regarding computer use. Treatment for the traditional group consisted of eight, 45-minute sessions. The treatment was derived by transcribing the HELP-Assert program into a structured format appropriate for group use. The results of one-way multivariate and univariate analyses of variance revealed no significant differences in multidimensional self-esteem, performance self-esteem, behavioral self-esteem, and aggressiveness between the two treatment groups. Computer-assisted assertiveness training was no more or no less effective than traditional group assertiveness training in influencing these elements of self-esteem. A significant difference between groups was found on measures of global self-esteem and assertiveness, leading to the conclusion that computer-assisted subjects had loftier self-perceptions and attitudes regarding their competence, success, significance, worthiness, and self-reported assertiveness than traditional group subjects.
Recommended Citation
King, Joanne, "The Impact Of Computer-Assisted And Traditional Group Assertiveness Training On The Self-Esteem Of Pregnant And Parenting Adolescents" (1993). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 894.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/894