Keywords
hardiness
resilience
psychological resources
adolescence
psychological adaptation
protective factors
psychological well-being
How to Cite
Abstract
Aim. To provide a theoretical substantiation of assertiveness as a psychological resource for the manifestation of hardiness in adolescence, to elucidate the mechanisms of its interaction with hardiness and resilience, and to summarize contemporary empirical evidence regarding the role of assertiveness within the system of protective factors contributing to young people’s psychological adaptation.
Methods. The study is theoretical and analytical in nature. Its methodological framework comprises systemic, comparative, and conceptual approaches to the analysis of personal psychological resources. The methods employed included theoretical analysis, synthesis, comparison, systematization, content analysis, and the generalization of contemporary scholarly works published predominantly in journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. Contemporary theoretical models of hardiness and resilience, as well as empirical studies of the relationship between assertiveness and psychological adaptation, were analyzed.
Results. Assertiveness was found to be appropriately conceptualized as a context-dependent psychological resource whose effectiveness is determined by the interaction between personal and environmental factors. Drawing on the protective-factor model proposed by Zimmerman et al., the compensatory and protective mechanisms through which assertiveness contributes to hardiness were summarized. A conceptual correspondence was identified between the structural components of assertiveness—cognitive-semantic, affective, and behavioral—and the components of hardiness. The analysis of contemporary empirical studies demonstrated stable positive associations between assertiveness and resilience, self-esteem, psychological well-being, and social adaptation. At the same time, the effects of assertiveness vary depending on the domain of functioning, sociocultural context, and level of external support. The findings substantiate the need for the comprehensive development of assertiveness in conjunction with other personal resources and a supportive social environment.
Conclusions. Assertiveness is an important psychological resource for hardiness in adolescence; however, its resource potential is realized only through interaction with other personal and social factors. The proposed theoretical interpretation clarifies the role of assertiveness within the structure of young people’s psychological adaptation and provides a conceptual basis for developing long-term psychological intervention and prevention programs aimed at strengthening hardiness, particularly under conditions of chronic stress and war-related challenges.
Keywords: assertiveness; hardiness; resilience; psychological resources; adolescence; psychological adaptation; protective factors; psychological well-being.
Received: March 3, 2026
Accepted: June 21, 2026
Published: June 30, 2026
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