Al-Hikmah University Journal

Assertive behaviour is the ability to express one's thoughts, feelings, and needs in a clear, direct, and respectful manner. It is a key component of healthy relationships, as it allows individuals to communicate their needs and boundaries without being aggressive or passive. However, when assertive behaviour is lacking, it could contribute to domestic violence. This is because individuals who are unable to assert themselves may be more likely to tolerate abusive behaviour from their partners. They may also be less likely to leave abusive relationships, as they may fear retaliation or believe that they deserve the abuse. However, there is a paucity of empirical research on assertive behaviour and domestic violence among public secondary school teachers in Kwara State. The objectives of the study are to examine the level of assertive behaviour among public secondary school teachers; establish the causes of domestic violence and investigate the relationship between the two variables. The study population includes 8172 public secondary school teachers in the state, from which a sample of 401 respondents was selected. The adopted questionnaires on the Assertive Behaviour Scale (ABS) by Ongong (2013) and the Domestic Violence Scale (DVS) by Marcia Bench (2018) were used to collect data for the study. The analyses were done using descriptive statistics of percentages and Pearson’s. The results of this study revealed that married teachers suffer domestic violence as a result of low levels of assertive behaviour among Teachers in Public Secondary Schools In Kwara State, Nigeria. It also showed that there is a significant relationship between assertive behaviour and domestic violence among married teachers. Based on these findings, it was recommended that married couples should be enlightened on the importance of assertive behaviour in marriage, marriage counsellors should expose couples to causes of domestic violence in marriage, and there should be periodic enlightenment on how poor assertive behaviour leads to domestic violence in marriage.