Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale – RSES
A 10-item self-report instrument measuring global self-esteem through self-competence and self-liking.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale – RSES was developed by Morris Rosenberg (1965). It is designed to measure Self-esteem. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents and adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 10 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Self-Competence, Self-Liking.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Competence | 1,2,3,4,5 | 5 |
| Self-Liking | 6,7,8,9,10 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Strongly Disagree, 1 = Disagree, 2 = Agree, 3 = Strongly Agree.
The scale includes 5 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 0 to 30. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Self-Esteem: 0 – 14
- Normal Self-Esteem: 15 – 25
- High Self-Esteem: 26 – 30
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.81.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.