The Causal Influence on Assertive Behavior of Upper Secondary School Students in the Southern Border Provinces
Keywords:
assertive behavior, parenting style, self-esteemAbstract
This study aimed to: (1) examine the goodness-of-fit of a causal influence model of assertive behavior, and (2) investigate the causal factors influencing assertive behavior among upper secondary school students in the southern border provinces of Thailand. The sample, obtained through multistage sampling, consisted of 420 upper secondary school students. Data were collected using questionnaires measuring self-esteem, assertive behavior, personality, and parenting styles. Content validity was verified by experts, and the instruments demonstrated reliability coefficients (Cronbach’s alpha) of 0.86, 0.70, 0.70, and 0.65, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling.The results indicated that: (1) the causal influence model, comprising assertive behavior, self-esteem, parenting styles, and personality, fit the empirical data well (χ² = 0.81, df = 4, p = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.00, GFI = 1.00, AGFI = 0.99, CFI = 1.00, and SRMR = 0.00). The model accounted for 21% of the variance in assertive behavior (R² = 0.21); and (2) an introverted-neurotic personality trait had the strongest direct effect on assertive behavior, whereas a permissive parenting style exerted the strongest indirect effect on assertive behavior through self-esteem. These findings suggest that students’ assertive behavior is shaped by the interplay of internal psychological characteristics and environmental factors.
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