Keywords
psychological resilience
resilience
emerging adulthood
socio-psychological adaptation
psychological well-being
motional regulation
psychological resources
How to Cite
Abstract
Purpose. To provide a theoretical justification for the role of assertiveness as a factor in the development of psychological resilience in emerging adulthood, to analyse contemporary scientific approaches to the relationship between these constructs, and to identify the psychological and sociocultural conditions under which assertive behaviour enhances young people’s adaptive capacity.
Methods. The study employed a theoretical and analytical design. The methods included theoretical analysis, comparison, systematisation, and synthesis of findings from contemporary Ukrainian and international studies. Scientific publications indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and other academic databases were analysed, with particular attention to assertiveness, psychological resilience, resilience, socio-psychological adaptation, and personality development during emerging adulthood.
Results. Assertiveness was found to be a multidimensional psychological construct integrating cognitive-semantic, affective, and behavioural components and constituting an important resource for psychological resilience. The analysis of contemporary research demonstrated a predominantly positive association of assertiveness with resilience, self-esteem, psychological well-being, and the ability to cope with stress constructively. At the same time, the strength and nature of this association were shown to depend on the sociocultural context, the individual’s level of psychological well-being, the operationalisation of assertiveness, and the specific characteristics of crisis conditions. It is argued that assertiveness should be regarded not as an isolated factor but as a component of a broader system of psychological resources that interacts with emotional regulation, cognitive flexibility, perseverance, and social support.
Originality/Value. Contemporary international and Ukrainian evidence concerning the relationship between assertiveness and psychological resilience in emerging adulthood was synthesised. The factors modifying this relationship were systematised, and an integrative approach was proposed for understanding assertiveness as a psychological resource for adaptation under conditions of chronic stress and social uncertainty.
Conclusions. Assertiveness is an important, although not the sole, determinant of psychological resilience in emerging adulthood. Its effectiveness depends on its interaction with other personal resources and on the characteristics of the social environment. The findings may provide a theoretical basis for developing comprehensive programmes of psychological support, psychological intervention, and resilience enhancement for young people.
Keywords: assertiveness; psychological resilience; resilience; emerging adulthood; socio-psychological adaptation; psychological well-being; emotional regulation; psychological resources.
Received: March 3, 2026
Accepted: May 20, 2026
Published: May 30, 2026
References
Anastácio, Z. (2016). Self-esteem, assertiveness and resilience in adolescents institutionalized. International Journal of Developmental and Educational Psychology, 1(1), 315–321. https://doi.org/10.17060/ijodaep.2016.n1.v1.231
Butuzova, L. P. (2010). Asertyvnist osobystosti yak osnova stanovlennia bezpechnoi povedinky v pidlitkovomu vitsi [Assertiveness of personality as a basis for the formation of safe behavior in adolescence]. In Problemy psykholohichnoi bezpeky: osobystist, suspilstvo, derzhava: Materialy Vseukrainskoi naukovo-praktychnoi konferentsii (pp. 33–40). Odesa: SMYL.
Collado-Soler, R., Trigueros, R., Aguilar-Parra, J. M., & Navarro, N. (2023). Emotional intelligence and resilience outcomes in adolescent period, is knowledge really strength? Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 16, 1365–1378. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S383296
Dias, P. C., & Cadime, I. (2017). Protective factors and resilience in adolescents: The mediating role of self-regulation. Psicología Educativa, 23(1), 37–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pse.2016.09.003
Dmytriieva, S. M., & Butuzova, L. P. (2021). Rozvytok asertyvnosti yunakiv yak umovy ekolohichnoi transformatsii yikh ahresyvnosti [Development of assertiveness in young people as a condition for the ecological transformation of their aggressiveness]. Herald of Kiev Institute of Business and Technology, 47(1), 64–72. https://doi.org/10.37203/kibit.2021.47.09
Gulip, M., & Klimkowska, K. (2025). Coping resilience and flourishing among passionate students with different levels of well-being — the moderating role of assertiveness. Lubelski Rocznik Pedagogiczny, 44(1), 87–104. https://doi.org/10.17951/lrp.2025.44.1.87-104
Komar, T., & Syniuk, V. (2024). Asertyvnist yak kliuchovyi faktor harmonizatsii vzaiemyn u sotsiumi [Assertiveness as a key factor in harmonizing relationships in society]. Naukovyi visnyk Vinnytskoi akademii bezperervnoi osvity. Seriia «Pedahohika. Psykholohiia», 6, 36–43. https://doi.org/10.32782/academ-ped.psyh-2024-2.05
Korolova, N. D., Matokhniuk, L. O., & Taran, A. A. (2024). Psykholohichna stiikist molodi v umovakh viiskovoi ahresii [Psychological resilience of young people in the context of military aggression]. Visnyk Donetskoho natsionalnoho universytetu imeni Vasylia Stusa. Seriia «Psykholohichni nauky», 2(5), 72–79. . https://doi.org/10.31558/2786-8745.2024.2(5).8
Lange, A. J., & Jakubowski, P. (1976). Responsible assertive behavior: Cognitive/behavioral procedures for trainers. Research Press.
Lazarus, A. A. (1973). On assertive behavior: A brief note. Behavior Therapy, 4(5), 697–699. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(73)80161-3
Parfanovych, I., Kyrychenko, V., Petrochko, Z., Necherda, V., Koropetska, O., & Lavrentieva, I. (2022). Peculiarities of assertiveness development and ways of socialization of personality in adolescence. BRAIN. Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience, 13(4), 163–181. https://doi.org/10.18662/brain/13.4/381
Plantade-Gipch, A., Bruno, J., Strub, L., Bouvard, M., & Martin-Krumm, C. (2023). Emotional regulation, attachment style, and assertiveness as determinants of well-being in emerging adults. Frontiers in Education, 8, Article 1058519. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1058519
Radul, I. H. (2020). Psykholohichni osoblyvosti rezylientnosti v yunatskomu vitsi [Psychological features of resilience in adolescence]. Naukovi zapysky. Seriia: Psykholohiia, 5, 5–11. https://doi.org/10.32782/cusu-psy
Salter, A. (1949). Conditioned reflex therapy: The direct approach to the reconstruction of personality. Creative Age Press.
Semeniuk, O., & Semeniuk, D. (2026). Suhestyvnyi vplyv media na formuvannia politychnykh pohliadiv studentskoi molodi [Suggestive influence of the media on the formation of the political views of student youth]. Psykholohichnyi chasopys, 12(4), 7–17. https://doi.org/10.31108/1.2026.12.4.1
Skolota, E. V. (2020). Asertyvnist yak skladnyk profesiinoho profiliu maibutnoho psykholoha [Assertiveness as a component of a future psychologist’s professional profile]. Vcheni zapysky Tavriiskoho natsionalnoho universytetu imeni V. I. Vernadskoho. Seriia: Psykholohiia, 31(70)(4), 79–83. https://doi.org/10.32838/2709-3093/2020.4/11
Vakhotska, I. O. (2023). Psykholohichni chynnyky konfliktolohichnoi stiikosti studentiv [Psychological factors of students’ conflict resilience]. Visnyk Natsionalnoho universytetu oborony Ukrainy, 6(76), 11–18. https://doi.org/10.33099/2617-6858–23–76–6–11-18
Wang, F., & King, R. B. (2025). Socio-emotional skills matter for academic resilience: A global perspective. Learning and Individual Differences, 123, Article 102758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2025.102758
Wolpe, J. (1990). The practice of behavior therapy (4th ed.). Pergamon Press.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Liliia Rudenko