Efficacy of booster sessions after training in assertiveness.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Assertion training is a common therapeutic intervention.
• The long-term efficacy of assertion training and the role of booster sessions require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of assertion training.
• To determine if monthly booster sessions enhance long-term outcomes in assertiveness, anxiety, and depression.

Main Methods:

• 28 subjects underwent a 6-week assertion training program.
• Participants were randomly assigned to receive or not receive monthly booster sessions for 6 months.
• Gambrill-Richey Assertion Inventory, Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Zung Self-rating Depression Scale were administered at multiple time points.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed significant improvements in assertiveness, anxiety, and depression post-training and maintained these gains.
• No significant differences were found between groups for assertiveness and anxiety measures.
• A significant interaction for depression scores revealed lower scores in the booster group at the 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Assertion training leads to significant short-term and medium-term improvements in assertiveness, anxiety, and depression.
• Monthly booster sessions may specifically enhance the long-term reduction of depression following assertion training.