Efficacy of Assertiveness Training, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Solution Focused Brief Therapy on Improving the Self-Esteem of Undergraduate Victims of Bullying

Abstract

This study investigated the efficacy of Assertiveness Training, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Solution Focused Brief Therapy on improving the self-esteem of undergraduate victims of bullying. Two research questions were raised and two corresponding hypotheses formulated. The study adopted the pre-test, post-test, non-equivalent control group quasi-experiment 3x2x2 factorial design. The population of the study was 5,882 undergraduates in the Faculty of Education, University of Benin and a sample of 138 participants. The instruments for data collection were the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire (OBVQ) developed by Olweus (1996) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) by Rosenberg (1965). In the present study, the OBVQ yielded a Cronbach's alpha of 0.862 while the RSES was 0.886. Data collected were analyzed using Analysis of Variance Statistics and the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The findings of the study showed that Assertiveness Training was significantly efficacious on improving the self-esteem of undergraduate victims of bullying; likewise, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The effectiveness of the two treatments on self-esteem was found to be independent of the sex of the participants. Solution Focused Brief Therapy had no statistically significant effect on improving the self-esteem of undergraduate victims of bullying. Based on the results, it was recommended that Assertiveness Training and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy be adopted by University counsellors to help improve the self-esteem of undergraduate victims of bullying.