Examined relationship of personal assertiveness and social support in two independent samples of college students (n=442). Results provided evidence that personal assertiveness significantly augments specific types of social relationships to predict psychological symptoms under stressful conditions. (Author/ABL)

Investigated whether assertive and nonassertive individuals differ in defense mechanisms they most typically rely on when confronted with interpersonal stress and conflict. Results indicated assertive males and females both endorsed the most adaptive defense mechanism cluster, whereas nonassertive males and females endorsed more primitive defense…