Enhancing assertiveness of South Asian children in Hong Kong: an online intervention†

Abstract

In Hong Kong, minority South Asian children are vulnerable to assertive skill deficit due to cultural differences and language barriers. As education increasingly embraces digital transformation, this study explored the effectiveness of an online intervention program in enhancing the assertiveness of South Asian 6-year-olds (N = 4) with a focus on initiating conversations and making responses. The four children participated in an online intervention program that involves cognitive and step-by-step behavioural skill training over a 6-week period. Participating children were also provided with opportunities to talk with Chinese peers and practise learnt assertive skills. A 10-minute conversation between participating South Asian children and their Chinese peers, before and after the intervention, were recorded to evaluate child assertive skills. Findings showed that children’s assertive skills, in terms of initiating conversation and making responses, improved after the intervention program. These findings have the potential to inform the design of future intervention programs that aim to improve the assertive skills of minority children in Hong Kong and other settings where minority students experience discrimination and marginalization in mainstream classrooms.