ASSERTIVENESS AS PREDICTOR OF AGRRESIVE BEHAVIOUR AMONG UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATES IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined assertiveness as predictor of aggressive behaviour among university undergraduate students in South East Nigeria. Two research questions guided the study and two null hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance. The study adopted correlational research design. The population of the study comprised 5,401(1,858 students from Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, 1,801 students from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and 1,742 students from University of Nigeria Nsukka) final year Faculty of Education students in the 2019/2020 academic session. A sample of 540 students was used for the study. Multistage sampling procedure was used for the study. The instruments for data collection were Students Assertiveness Scale (SAS₁) and Students Aggression Scale (SAS₂). Cronbach Alpha reliability technique was used to determine the internal consistency of the instruments which gave coefficients of 0.79 and 0.83 for SAS₁ and SAS₂ respectively. Simple Linear Regression Analysis and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used for the data analysis. The study revealed that assertiveness (r = 0.673; p = 0.000), assertiveness on male and female (r = 0.573 and 0.774; p = 0.000) positively and significantly predicted aggressive behaviour among university undergraduates in South East Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study recommended that Universities management should consider employing qualified psychologists to provide support for students experiencing issues related to aggressive behaviours and other related challenges.