Effectiveness of teaching effective and assertive communication skills on students' social adaptation

Master's thesis in the field of social work

Abstract:

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to determine the effectiveness of teaching effective and assertive communication skills on the social adjustment of new incoming students of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. Method: The method of this semi-experimental research is pre-test-post-test and follow-up with test and control groups. Statistical population: This research was 120 students entering the second semester of study. Statistical sample: A statistical sample of 54 students who were randomly replaced in two experimental and control groups. Research tools: Farahbakhsh students' compatibility test was conducted for six sessions of effective and assertive communication skills training for the experimental group. Then, both experimental and control groups were given a post-test at the same time, and finally, after two months from the end of the training, in order to determine the durability of the intervention and follow-up, the mentioned test was performed on the experimental group.

Findings: The data were analyzed using the statistical test of univariate analysis of covariance and showed that the training of effective communication skills and the courage of social adaptation of the students has increased. Also, the results of the follow-up showed that the effect of effective communication skill training and boldness continued after two months. The significance level in this research is p=0.001. Conclusion: Teaching effective and assertive communication skills increases the level of adaptability of university students. Therefore, it is suggested to provide the basis for increasing the social adaptation of students by holding effective and courageous communication skills training workshops in different academic courses in universities.

Keywords: effective communication, courage, social adaptation, student

Introduction:

Entering the university is an important change in the life of every teenager. Students, as national capitals and productive human resources of tomorrow, have always been the special attention of the planners and policy makers of the society. Student life is accompanied by many changes, and for this reason, it is essential that students have the skills and abilities to deal with problems in a healthy and diverse manner so that they can protect their physical and mental health and continue to develop their personality and improve their health. Coping with the pressures of life, both social and academic, and acquiring skills to face the aforementioned fields, is always a part of the reality of life, and what is called life skills today is expressed in divine teachings, especially in the Holy Quran. But the believers are their brothers, so make peace between your brothers and fear Allah, that He may have mercy on you. Yasakher qaum from the people, may they not be good to them, and no women may be good to them, and may not be talmizwa. And don't compare yourselves with bad names, the name of transgression is after faith, and whoever does not repent, those are the wrongdoers_11 "Surah Al-Hijrat" Del; (1387)

Since the beginning of academic life in the university is completely unfamiliar to most students, therefore, studying in the university has its own psychological pressures and requires special skills.

Some changes in the life of students include:

The university environment has a wider space compared to high school, and it is not possible to get to know all places and people in a short period of time. The social environment of the university is very different from high school. In high school, people are very similar in terms of customs, culture, social and economic level, and things like that. While this is not the case in the university environment and students from villages, cities and different geographical areas and from different ethnicities and sometimes even from foreign countries and from other races live and study together. Although such an environment creates favorable grounds for establishing social relations and understanding different cultures and customs, it also makes social adaptation more difficult and complicated in some cases. Academic activities and assignments are more diverse and numerous compared to high school. Carrying out scientific research projects, communicating with various research and practical centers, communicating with people in various fields and professions, and in addition to this, interviews, observations, internships, as well as giving lectures, etc., are another example of diverse educational activities.Conducting scientific research projects, communicating with various research and practical centers, communicating with people in various fields and professions, and in addition to this, interviews, observations, internships, as well as giving lectures, etc., are another example of various educational activities that students are expected to perform at the university. On the other hand, when people enter the territory of adolescence, due to various psychological, physical, and sexual changes, they experience very sensitive transition conditions that if not enough attention is paid to their needs in this sensitive period, they may experience many developmental problems such as depression, suicide, delinquency, etc. To a large extent, many of these actions are related to the main problem of teenagers in this period, which is adaptation. And a sensitive point is that students, as an educated class, are usually in this sensitive period of change, and unfortunately, there is evidence that the increasing growth of these behaviors can be seen in the university environment and student environments such as dormitories. According to these changes in the lives of students, their adaptation or lack of social adaptation to the new university environment is influenced by many factors, including life skills training, so effective communication skills and courage are two important skills. Of the ten life skills that are essential for social life, they are effective on social adjustment.

Therefore, this research, titled "Effectiveness of teaching effective and bold communication skills on students' social adjustment", with the knowledge and awareness of social and personality differences in students, tries to investigate the effectiveness of teaching effective and bold communication skills on students' social adjustment.

2-1- Statement of the problem

Universities and environments Students include a large part of the youth, elites and educated people of the society. This young population, in line with the existing atmosphere and the progressive course of information sources, has been involved in many challenges, transformations and pressures and needs special attention and support. University is a new environment, with reduced parental support, a different academic structure, and the demand to adapt to new social relationships. Some students struggle to adjust to university life. A person's expectations from the university affect his adjustment. There is often a gap between the expectations that a person expects from the university and what the university really is. Interpersonal relationships and having special skills, especially effective communication skills and daring skills, are considered two main skills in social adaptation, which have always been considered by those responsible for providing students' mental health. University students experience more problems and discomforts in terms of the sensitivity of the growth period and the critical conditions of this period of life, especially in the first years of entering the university. Among other things, we can mention breaking away from the previous life in the family, entering student life, living with a roommate, adapting to the university and dormitory environment and managing livelihood, academic, political, economic issues, employment, emotional issues and how to fill free time, offering cigarettes, hookah and sometimes drug abuse, participating in friendly night outs, sexual deviations and other problems. According to the reports of the reasons for students to refer to the student counseling offices of the universities of medical sciences in the years 1388 to 1390, it shows that the most common problems of the students are: 1- psychological problems 2- academic problems 3- communication problems including: incompatibility in the dormitory, interpersonal communication problems in the university and outside the university 4- problems related to marriage 5- other problems. The situation of students referred to Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences Student Counseling Office has been the same during the mentioned years. Central Student Counseling Office of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Annual Performance Report (2018-2019)

Another important issue that has been discussed in recent years is the empowerment of individuals and communities. Empowerment was introduced in the 1990s. Empowerment is a social process that is aimed at raising awareness, continuous education to improve individual capacities and local communities, and also help people to access resources and provide a productive life. Toder; (1996)

In addition to getting an education, students must define their lifestyle, fulfill the roles they have prepared in their minds, and establish proper communication with the world around them to get rid of loneliness and isolation.