Assertiveness, anxiety, and interpersonal discomfort among amputees: implications for assertiveness training.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Physical disability, particularly lower limb amputation, may be associated with reduced assertiveness.
• Understanding psychosocial responses to amputation is crucial for effective rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate assertiveness, interpersonal discomfort, and anxiety in lower limb amputees.
• To identify demographic predictors of these psychosocial variables in amputees.
• To compare amputees with a control group of hospital visitors.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving lower limb amputees and hospital visitors.
• Self-report measures assessing assertiveness, interpersonal discomfort, and anxiety.
• Multiple regression analyses to identify predictor variables.

Main Results:

• Age was a significant predictor of assertiveness among amputees.
• Outpatient status significantly predicted interpersonal discomfort.
• No significant differences were reported between amputees and controls on all measures.

Conclusions:

• Assertiveness training may only be necessary for select amputees.
• Screening for age and outpatient status is recommended in future assertiveness research with disabled individuals.
• Further research is needed to characterize psychosocial responses to amputation over time.