Contingencies of Self-Worth Scale – CSWS
Measures the specific domains on which an individual bases their self-worth and self-esteem.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Contingencies of Self-Worth Scale – CSWS was developed by Jennifer Crocker, Riia K. Luhtanen, M. Lynne Cooper, Alexandra Bouvrette (2003). It is designed to measure Contingencies of Self-Worth. The scale is intended for use with College students and adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 35 items organized into 7 factors/subscales: Family Support, Competition, Appearance, God’s Love, Academic Competence, Virtue, Approval from Others.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Family Support | 7,10,16,24,29 | 5 |
| Competition | 3,12,20,25,32 | 5 |
| Appearance | 1,4,17,21,30 | 5 |
| God's Love | 2,8,18,26,31 | 5 |
| Academic Competence | 13,19,22,27,33 | 5 |
| Virtue | 5,11,14,28,34 | 5 |
| Approval from Others | 6,9,15,23,35 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Disagree Somewhat, 4 = Neutral, 5 = Agree Somewhat, 6 = Agree, 7 = Strongly Agree.
The scale includes 7 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 5 to 35. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Contingency (Subscale score): 5 – 15
- Moderate Contingency (Subscale score): 16 – 25
- High Contingency (Subscale score): 26 – 35
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Family Support: 0.84, Competition: 0.87, Appearance: 0.83, God's Love: 0.96, Academic Competence: 0.82, Virtue: 0.83, Approval from Others: 0.82.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.