Sexual assertiveness: Can it prevent sexual abuse among adolescent girls?

Pages: 128-131
Vithyalakshmi Udayarajan (RAAK Nursing and Paramedical College, Puducherry)
Arun Tipandjan (International Centre for Psychological Counseling and Social Research, Puducherry)
Baby Rathinasabapathy (Mother Theresa Post Graduate and Research Institute of Health Science, Puducherry)

Sexual abuse is a serious problem that cannot be solved solely by responding to abuse after it has been perpetrated. The incidents of sexual abuse in adolescents occur commonly in high schools. Generally, adolescents who could not develop assertiveness tend to be victims and turn out to be aggressive. The study sample consisted of 120 adolescent girls attending high school. Self – constructed questionnaire was used to estimate sexual abuse knowledge and sexual assertiveness scores. Pre-test and post-test were used to assess the effectiveness of assertiveness training programme. Statistically significant difference was found in participants’ knowledge and assertiveness levels on prevention of sexual abuse (p<0.05), after seven sessions of the assertiveness training programme. Although literature search reveals no similar studies from Puducherry, India, our results correspond with those from other states. The assertive training for adolescents should become a part of school health programme with teachers and parents support.