Analysis of Assertive Communication Skills in Adolescents Health With Aggressive Behavior

Abstract

Communication is the basis of all social interaction activities in life. One of the important abilities for humans to have as social creatures is assertive communication skills. Assertive communication is the ability to convey thoughts, feelings, needs while still paying attention to the rights of others. Lack of assertive communication skills in adolescents is one of the causes of aggressive behavior. An initial survey conducted on a number of junior high school students who had aggressive behavior showed the lack of assertive communication skills possessed. This study aims to describe assertive communication skills in early adolescents who have aggressive behavior, using the Assertiveness Scale for Adolescents (ASA). This research is a descriptive study with a sample of 147 adolescents selected using the purposive sampling method. The results showed the highest communication skills were aggressive communication (59.9%), unassertive or passive communication (26.5%), the lowest communication ability was assertive communication (13.6%). This research recommends that parents and schools are important to continue to provide assertive communication stimulation in adolescents.

Aggressiveness and Assertive Behaviour

“…The level of aggressiveness increases in the absence of experience of assertive behavior (Yuliani, Etika, Suharto & Nurseskasatmata, 2020). The researchers also indicate to the boundary between assertiveness and aggressiveness (as well as between assertiveness and passivity) that depends on the norms accepted in the society that can change when moving from one culture to another (Margalit, & Mauger, 1984).…”

Peculiarities of Assertiveness Development and Ways of Socialization of Personality in Adolescence

“…Increasing assertiveness and self-efficacy helps to reduce aggression (Mofrad & Mehrabi, 2015). At the same time, the reason for aggressive behavior, scientists call the lack of adolescent skills of assertive communication, which is the ability to convey thoughts, feelings, needs, taking into account the interests and needs of others (Yuliani et al, 2020).…”

“…However, developed assertiveness is the key to high self-esteem of adolescents, empathy, the ability to have spontaneous reactions and manage emotional states (emotional intelligence) (Simarmata, 2018), the ability to speak directly about their desires and needs, the ability to express their views using argumentation, to insist on one's own (Yuliani et al, 2020); possession of tactics to meet their own needs and interests without violating the rights of others.…”