Effect of Schema Therapy and Assertiveness Training on Social Anxiety and Interpersonal Sensitivity among Secondary School Students in Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the effect of Schema Therapy and Assertiveness Training on social anxiety and interpersonal sensitivity among secondary school students in Plateau State, Nigeria. Social anxiety and interpersonal sensitivity—manifested in excessive fear of evaluation, social withdrawal, and emotional vulnerability—are growing concerns in Nigerian schools, often leading to academic disengagement and psychosocial dysfunction. A quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test control group design was employed. From a population of 56 students identified through behavioural screening and referral by school counsellors, a purposive sample of 34 students was selected from three public secondary schools in Plateau State. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Schema Therapy (n = 11), Assertiveness Training (n = 11), or a control group (n = 12). Over eight weeks, students in the treatment groups received weekly therapeutic sessions delivered by trained school counselling psychologists. The Social Anxiety and Interpersonal Sensitivity Scale for Adolescents (SAISSA) was used to assess outcomes before and after intervention. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to evaluate treatment effects while controlling for pre-test scores. Results revealed that both Schema Therapy and Assertiveness Training produced statistically significant reductions in social anxiety and interpersonal sensitivity, with Assertiveness Training showing slightly greater improvement. The study concludes that these interventions are effective tools for enhancing emotional resilience and interpersonal functioning among adolescents. It recommends that mental health programs in Nigerian secondary schools integrate these therapies into their guidance services, particularly in underserved regions such as Plateau State.