This study used a pre-test-post-test, control group quasi-experimental design to investigate the effects of assertiveness training and cognitive restructuring technique on self-esteem of female undergraduate victims of relationship violence in south-west Nigeria. The sample for the study comprised of ninety female undergraduates students who have experienced relationship violence. They were screened using the Severity of Violence Against Women Scale (SVAWS) and selected through multi-stage sampling technique from three randomly selected Universities (Ibadan, Lagos and Olabisi Onobanjo) in South-west Nigeria. The participants were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. The two treatment groups were exposed to eight-weeks training in Assertiveness and Cognitive Restructuring Training, while participants in the control group received no training. Two validated instrument: Severity of Violence Against Women Scale (SVAWS) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used. Three hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Data was analysed using Analysis of Covariance. There was significant main effect of treatment in the pre-post self-esteem scores of female undergraduate victims of relationship violence in the experimental and control groups (F(2,87) = 43.884, P < .05). Also, there was significant difference in the main effect of age in the pre-post self-esteem scores of female undergraduate victims of relationship violence between young and older participants (F (2,87) = 16.808, P < .05). However, that there was no significant interaction effect of age in the pre-post self-esteem scores of female undergraduate victims of relationship violence in the experimental and control groups (F(3,86) = 0.188, P < .05). Therefore, psychological intervention programmes should be put in place in universities through their counselling centres to help undergraduates rediscover their potentials and develop competence to relate intelligently with others.
Keywords: Age, Assertiveness Training, Cognitive Restructuring, Nigeria, South-west, University
