Normative studies with the Scale for Interpersonal Behaviour (SIB): I. Nonpsychiatric social skills trainees

The Scale for Interpersonal Behavior (SIB) (Arrindell & Van der Ende, 1985) is a multidimensional self-report measure of state assertiveness. The SIE measures both discomfort (anxiety) associated with self-assertion in specif ic situations and the likelihood of engaging in a specific assertive respon se (performance). This is achieved with an overall measure and four factori ally-derived scales: (I) Display of negative feelings (Negative assertion), (II) Expression of and dealing with personal limitations, (III) Initiating assertiveness and (IV) Praising others and the ability to deal with compli ments/praise of others (Positive assertion). To enhance its application, th e SIE was psychometrically evaluated in a sample comprising 562 female and male junior and senior executives (managers) who had voluntarily applied fo r social skills training in a (nonpsychiatric) commercial guidance center, Findings on factorial invariance and measurement reliability were outstandi ng. Normative data and sex differences were presented. Compared to their ma le counterparts, female managers reported higher mean levels of assertive r esponding on the dimensions of Positive assertion, Expression of and dealin g with personal limitations and General assertiveness. While not large in m agnitude, these differences were judged to be of some practical importance. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.