Outcome Measure Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES)

Sensitivity to No
Change
Population Adult and paediatrics

Domain Measures of Self

Type of Measure Self-report

ICF-Code/s B1

Description The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES: Rosenberg, 1965) is the most
widely used measure of self-esteem for research purposes but it is NOT a
diagnostic aid for any psychological issues of states. The scale has been
used in more than one hundred research projects.

It is a 10-item Likert scale with items answered on a four point scale - from
strongly agree (4) to strongly disagree (1). Total scores range from 10 to 40,
with higher scores representing lower self-esteem.

The scale measures state self-esteem by asking the respondents to reflect

on their current feelings. Five of the items have positively worded
statements and five have negatively worded ones.

The RSES is widely used and has been used with acquired brain injury
populations. The scale has been translated into several different languages
and used in cross-cultural studies involving 53 different countries.

Properties ADMINISTRATION

The RSES consists of ten statements that a respondent could possibly apply
to him / herself that s/he must rate on how much s/he agree with each.
The items should be answered quickly without over-thinking, respondent's
first inclination is what s/he should put down.

SCORING:
To score the items, assign a value to each of the 10 items as follows:
1) For items 1, 2, 4, 6, 7: Strongly Agree = 3, Agree = 2, Disagree = 1, and
Strongly Disagree = 0.
2) For items 3, 5, 8, 9, 10 (which are reversed in valence, and noted with
the asterisks** below): Strongly Agree = 0, Agree = 1, Disagree = 2, and
Strongly Disagree = 3.
The scale ranges from 0 - 30, with 30 indicating the highest score possible.

Other scoring options are possible. For example, one can assign values 1-4
rather than 0-3; then scores will range from 10-40. Some researchers use
5- or 7-point Likert scales, and again, scale ranges would vary based on the
addition of "middle" categories of agreement.

PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES

The original sample for which the scale was developed in the 1960s
consisted of 5,024 high school juniors and seniors from 10 randomly
selected schools in New York State and was scored as a Guttman scale.
The scale generally has high reliability: test-retest correlations are typically
in the range of .82 to .88, and Cronbach's alpha for various samples are in
the range of .77 to .88 (see Blascovich and Tomaka, 1993 and Rosenberg,
1986 for further detail).
Studies have demonstrated both a unidimensional and a two-factor (self-
confidence and self-deprecation) structure to the scale. To obtain norms
for a sample similar to your own, you must search the academic literature
to find research using similar samples.
Factor Analysis
The RSES was investigated using item response theory. Factor analysis
identified a single common factor, contrary to some previous studies that
extracted separate Self-Confidence and Self-Depreciation factors. A uni-
dimensional model for graded item responses was fit to the data. A model
that constrained the 10 items to equal discrimination was contrasted with
a model allowing the discrimination to be estimated freely. The test of
significance indicated that the unconstrained model better fit the data-that
is, the 10 items of the RSES are not equally discriminating and are
differentially related to self-esteem.
Reliability and Validity
The RSES presented high ratings in reliability areas; internal consistency
was 0.77, minimum Coefficient of Reproducibility was at least 0.90 (M.
Rosenberg, 1965, and personal communication, April 22, 1987).
A varied selection of independent studies each using such samples as –
parents, men over 60, high school students, and civil servants – showed
alpha coefficients ranging from 0.72 to 0.87 (all fairly high).
Test-retest reliability for the 2-week interval was calculated at 0.85, the 7-
month interval was calculated at 0.63 (Silber & Tippett, 1965, Shorkey &
Whiteman, 1978).
The RES is closely connected with the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory.
Test-retest reliability:
Ratings of self-esteem were highly correlated over a two week period in an
acquired brain injury (ABI) sample (r=.86, p<.01) (Cooper-Evans, Alderman,
Knight, & Oddy, 2008).
 Internal consistency:
High internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=.89) has been reported in a
TBI population (Carroll & Coetzer, 2011).

Convergent validity:
RSES scores correlated with depression (r=.65) and anxiety (r=.71) in an ABI
population (Cooper-Evans et al., 2008). Significant negative correlation
with positive view of self, measured using the Head Injury Semantic
Differential Scale-III, (r=-.365) has been reported (Carroll & Coetzer, 2011).

Advantages 1) In the public domain;

2) Quick to administer;
3) Widely used, including within brain injury populations.

Disadvantages 1) Does not change in response to intervention;

2) NOT a diagnostic aid for any psychological issues of states;
3) Since the concept of self-esteem is one most people familiar
with, the RSES will probably not tell the respondents anything
they do not already know.

Other details This is a global measure of self-concept.

Reviewers Tamara Ownsworth (Adult)

Vicki Anderson & Cathy Catroppa (Paediatrics)
 References

References with further characteristics or discussion of the scale and its derivatives:
Blascovich, Jim and Joseph Tomaka. 1993. "Measures of Self-Esteem." Pp. 115-160 in J.P.
Robinson, P.R. Shaver, and L.S. Wrightsman (eds.), Measures of Personality and Social
Psychological Attitudes. Third Edition. Ann Arbor: Institute for Social Research.

Owens, Timothy J. 1994. "Two Dimensions of Self-Esteem: Reciprocal Effects of Positive Self-
Worth and Self-Deprecation on Adolescent Problems." American Sociological Review. 59:391-
407.

Owens, Timothy J. 1993. "Accentuate the Positive - and the Negative: Rethinking the Use of
Self-Esteem, Self-Deprecation, and Self-Confidence." Social Psychology Quarterly. 56:288-99.

Owens, Timothy J. 2001. Extending Self-Esteem Theory and Research. Cambridge: University
Press.

Rosenberg, Morris. 1965. Society and the Adolescent Self-Image. Princeton, New Jersey:
Princeton University Press (Chapter 2 discusses construct validity).

Rosenberg, Morris. 1986. Conceiving the Self. Krieger: Malabar, FL.

Silber, E. and Tippett, Jean 1965. "Self-esteem: Clinical assessment and measurement
validation."Psychological Reports, 16, 1017-1071. (Discusses multitrait-multimethod
investigation using RSE).

Wells, L. Edward and Gerald Marwell. 1976. self-Esteem: Its Conceptuality and Measurement.
Beverly Hills: Sage.
Wylie, Ruth C. 1974. The Self-Concept (especially pp. 180-189.) Revised Edition. Lincoln,
Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press
Related References:
Carroll, E., & Coetzer, R. (2011). Identity, grief and self-awareness after traumatic brain
injury. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 21(3), 289-305. doi: Pii 934339402 Doi
10.1080/09602011.2011.555972
Cooper-Evans, S., Alderman, N., Knight, C., & Oddy, M. (2008). Self-esteem as a predictor of
psychological distress after severe acquired brain injury: An exploratory study.
Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 18(5-6), 607-626. doi: Doi 10.1080/09602010801948516
Crandal, R. (1973). The measurement of self-esteem and related constructs, p. 80-82 in J.P.
Lorenzo-Hernandez, J. & Oullette, S.C. (1998). Ethnic identity, self-esteem, and values in
Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, and African Americans. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 28,
2007-2024.
McCreary, M.L, Slavin, L.A., & Berry, E.J. (1996). Predicting problem behavior and self-esteem
among African American Adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Research, 11, 216-234.
Robinson & P.R. Shaver (Eds), Measures of social psychological attitudes. Revised edition.
Ann Arbor: ISR.
Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton
University Press.
Simmons, R.G., Rosenberg, F., & Rosenberg, M. (1973). Disturbance in the self-image at
adolescence. American Sociological Review, 38, 553-568. This paper includes the six item
version referenced by McCreary et al. (1996).
Wylie, R. C. (1974). The self-concept. Revised edition. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of
Nebraska Press.
Dissertations and Journals:
Classen, Sherrilene; Velozo, Craig A.; Mann, William, C. (2007). The Rosenberg Self-Esteem
Scale as a Measure of Self-Esteem Noninstitutionalized Elderly. Clinical Gerontologists, Vol.
31, Issue 1, p.77-93.
Hatcher, Jennifer; Lynne, Hall (2009). Psychometric Properties of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem
Scale in African American Single Mothers. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, Vol. 30, No. 2,
pp.70-77.