The influence of assertiveness training on depression level of high school students in Bengkulu, Indonesia

Objective: The research identified the influence of assertiveness training against teenage depression in high scholars in Kepahiang Regency, Bengkulu, Indonesia. Method: This study used a quasi-experiment approach with pre-test and post-test design and a control group. Eighty students were engaged through simple random sampling. Results: The study found the frequency of depression in teenagers and considered the effect of assertiveness training. 14.10 teens were counted as depressed before assertiveness training provision, while the post-training average was 7.98 (p =.000). Assertiveness training had a significant effect on the prevalence of depression in the intervention group. Conclusions: The study recommends schools to cooperate with health services to increase mental health programs such as building peer groups, delivering assertiveness training, and teaching stress management to prevent depression in teenagers.