Assertiveness training, extensively studied during the 1970s within clinical psychology, focused on enhancing individuals’ abilities to openly convey preferences, decline requests, and express needs. Researchers Brittany Speed, Benjamin Goldstein, and Marvin Goldfried classified this method as a “transdiagnostic intervention” in a 2018 paper, asserting that assertiveness training has a beneficial effect on a variety of clinical conditions, thereby questioning its decreasing popularity as psychology evolved its methods.
The skill of maintaining boundaries emerged as more than just a personality trait; it’s a trainable ability with quantifiable improvements in outcomes like self-esteem. This highlights the significant role of assertiveness training within mental health frameworks.
In 2025, Xiaoxue Kuang and team investigated the reasons behind difficulties in setting boundaries through a study with 2,203 Chinese university students. Their findings revealed a “people-pleasing” pattern—a mix of pleasing thoughts, behaviors, and emotions associated with worse mental health results. Although the study had contextual and methodological limitations, it provided insight into why some individuals find it challenging to assert boundaries effectively.
The process of boundary-setting is closely linked to self-respect rather than merely confidence. While self-confidence refers to one’s belief in their abilities, self-respect pertains to upholding self-worth even in the face of others’ disappointment. A stable self-esteem bolsters this process, mitigating the challenges of saying no.
Crucially, effective boundary-setting is distinct from being blunt or uncooperative. Assertiveness requires clearly communicating needs without aggression. Research emphasizes that healthy boundary-setting entails simple refusals without superfluous justification, apologies, or lingering guilt.
Studies reveal that challenges in setting boundaries often correlate more strongly with self-worth than with communication skills. The perception of worth associated with refusal can change with adequate training, highlighting the necessity of revisiting assertiveness training within psychological practice.