The Effectiveness of Assertiveness Training on Positive Affect and Aggression in Elementary School Students.

ntroduction: The elementary school period is considered the most crucial educational stage across all educational systems worldwide. This is primarily because character formation and the comprehensive development of students largely occur during this phase. Elementary education plays a vital role in fostering concepts and understanding the meanings of daily life experiences for children.Objective: This research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of assertiveness training on positive affect and aggression in elementary school students in Somehsara.Method: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and a control group. The statistical population included all fifth and sixth-grade students in public schools in Somehsara during the academic year 2024-2025. A sample size of 28 participants (14 in the experimental group and 14 in the control group) was selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Shahim Aggression Questionnaire for Elementary School Children (2006) and the Positive Affect component of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) by Watson, Clark, and Tellegen (1988) across two stages (pre-test and post-test). The experimental group received 8 sessions of assertiveness training, while the control group was placed on a waiting list for the training.Findings: For data analysis, descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage) were used. To test the research hypotheses, Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was employed using SPSS statistical software, version 26. The findings indicated that assertiveness training was effective in improving positive affect and reducing aggression in elementary school students.Conclusion: Consequently, it can be stated that assertiveness training can not only enhance positive affect but also lead to a reduction in aggressive behaviors among elementary school students.

Keywords: Assertiveness Training, Positive Affect, Aggression, Elementary School Students.