State Self-Esteem Scale – SSES
Measures temporary fluctuations in an individual's self-esteem across performance, social, and appearance dimensions.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The State Self-Esteem Scale – SSES was developed by Todd F. Heatherton & Janet Polivy (1991). It is designed to measure State Self-Esteem. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents and adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Performance, Social, Appearance.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 1,4,5,9,14,18,19 | 7 |
| Social | 2,8,10,13,15,17,20 | 7 |
| Appearance | 3,6,7,11,12,16 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at All, 2 = A Little Bit, 3 = Somewhat, 4 = Very Much, 5 = Extremely.
The scale includes 13 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 20 to 100. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low State Self-Esteem: 20 – 50
- Moderate State Self-Esteem: 51 – 80
- High State Self-Esteem: 81 – 100
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.