Skip to main content
Original Article

Factor Structures of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale

A Meta-Analysis of Pattern Matrices

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000101

The dimensionality of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was examined in this meta-analysis of 23 studies consisting of 80 independent samples representing a total sample of 32,491 participants. The 2-factor structure with a positive self-esteem factor defined by 5 positively worded items and a negative self-esteem factor defined by 5 negatively worded items was generally supported. However, samples in Schmitt and Allik (2005) generated a global self-esteem factor. High coefficients of congruence for noncounterpart factors revealed overlap between positive and negative self-esteem factors. Hence, the 1-factor solution is recommended unless further findings support that positive and negative self-esteem factors in fact measure substantively different underlying constructs.

The included studies are indicated by asterisks.

References

  • * Bagley, C. , Bolitho, F. , Bertrand, L. (1997). Norms and construct validity of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale in Canadian high school populations: Implications for counseling. Canadian Journal of Counseling, 31, 82–92. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Becker, G. (1996). The meta-analysis of factor analysis: An illustration based on the cumulation of correlation matrices. Psychological Methods, 1, 341–353. doi 10.1037/1082-989X.1.4.341 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Beretvas, S. N. , Furlow, C. F. (2006). Evaluations of an approximate method for synthesizing covariance matrices for use in meta-analytic SEM. Structural Equation Modeling, 13, 153–185. Retrieved from dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15328007sem1302_1 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Bloch, M. H. , Landeros-Weisenberger, A. , Rosario, M. C. , Pittenger, C. , Leckman, J. F. (2008). Meta-analysis of the symptom structure of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 165, 1532–1542. doi 10.1176/appi.ajp.2008.08020320 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • * Carmines, E. G. , Zeller, R. A. (1979). Reliability and validity assessment. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • * Davis, C. , Kellett, S. , Beail, N. (2009). Utility of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 114, 172–178. doi 10.1352/1944-7558-114.3.172 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • DiStefano, C. , Motl, R. W. (2009). Self-esteem and method effects associated with negatively worded items: Investigating factorial invariance by sex. Structural Equation Modeling, 16, 134–146. doi 10.1080/10705510802565403 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • * Dobson, C. , Goudy, W. J. , Keith, P. M. , Powers, E. A. (1979). Further analysis of Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale. Psychological Reports, 44, 639–641. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • * Franck, E. , De Raedt, R. , Barbez, C. , Rosseel, Y. (2008). Psychometric properties of the Dutch Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Psychologica Belgica, 48, 25–35. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Frick, P. J. , Lahey, B. B. , Loeber, R. , Tannenbaum, L. , Van Horn, Y. , Christ, M. A. , ... Hanson, K. (1993). Oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder: A meta-analytic review of factor analysis and crossvalidation in a clinical sample. Clinical Psychology Review, 13, 319–340. doi 10.1016/0272-7358(93)90016-F First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • * Gaines, J. S. (2009). Labeling adult sex offenders and sexually violent predators: The impact of registration and community notification. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation of Temple University. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Gentile, B. , Grabe, S. , Dolan-Pascoe, B. , Twenge, J. M. , Wells, B. E. , Maitino, A. (2009). Gender differences in domain-specific self-esteem: A meta-analysis. Review of General Psychology, 13, 34–45. doi 10.1037/a0013689 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • * Goldsmith, R. E. (1986). Dimensionality of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Journal of Social Behavior & Personality, 1, 253–264. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • * Goldsmith, R. E. , Goldsmith, E. B. (1982). Dogmatism and self-esteem: Further evidence. Psychological Reports, 51, 289–290. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • * Gray-Little, B. , Williams, V. S. , Hancock, T. D. (1997). An item response theory analysis of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 23, 443–451. doi 10.1177/0146167297235001 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Greenberger, E. , Chen, C. , Dmitrieva, J. , Farruggia, S. P. (2003). Item-wording and the dimensionality of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Do they matter? Personality and Individual Differences, 35, 1241–1254. doi 10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00331-8 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Guadagnoli, E. , Velicer, W. (1991). A comparison of pattern matching indices. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 26, 323–343. doi 10.1207/s15327906mbr2602_7 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Hair, J. F., Jr. , Anderson, R. E. , Tatham, R. L. , Black, W. C. (1998). Multivariate data analysis (5th ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Halama, P. (2008). Confirmatory factor analysis of Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale in a sample of Slovak high school and university students. Studia Psychologica, 50, 255–266. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • * Hatcher, J. , & Hall, L. A. (2009). Psychometric properties of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale in African American single mothers. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 30, 70–77. doi 10.1080/01612840802595113 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • * Hensley, E. , & Roberts, M. K. (1976). Dimensions of Rosenberg’s scale of self-esteem. Psychological Reports, 38, 583–584. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • * Hensley, W. E. (1977). Differences between males and females on Rosenberg scale of self-esteem. Psychological Reports, 41, 829–830. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Judge, T. A. , Erez, A. , Bono, J. E. (1998). The power of being positive: The relation between positive self-concept and job performance. Human Performance, 11, 167–187. doi 10.1207/s15327043hup1102&3_4 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Kahng, S. K. , Mowbray, C. (2005). Assessment of self-esteem among individuals with severe mental illness: Testing two dimensions of self-esteem theory and implications for social work practice. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 11, 83–104. doi 10.1300/J137v11n03_05 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • * Kaplan, H. B. , Pokorny, A. D. (1969). Self-derogation and psychosocial adjustment. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 149, 421–434. doi 10.1097/00005053-196911000-00006 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Loeber, R. , Schmaling, K. B. (1985). Empirical evidence for overt and covert patterns of antisocial conduct problems: A meta-analysis. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 13, 337–353. doi 10.1007/BF00910652 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H. W. , Craven, R. G. (2006). Reciprocal effects of self-concept and performance from a multidimensional perspective: Beyond seductive pleasure and unidimensional perspectives. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 1, 133–163. doi 10.1111/j.1745-6916.2006.00010.x First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Marsh, H. W. , Scalas, L. F. , Nagengast, B. (2010). Longitudinal tests of competing factor structures for the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Traits, ephemeral artifacts, and stable response styles. Psychological Assessment, 22, 366–381. doi 10.1037/ a0019225 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Martín-Albo, J. , Núñez, J. L. , Navarro, J. G. , Grijalvo, F. , Navascués, V. (2007). The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Translation and validation in university students. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 10, 458–467. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • McDermott, P. A. , Alterman, A. I. , Cacciola, J. S. , Rutherford, M. J. , Newman, J. P. , Mulholland, E. M. (2000). Generality of psychopathy Checklist-Revised factors over prisoners and substance-dependent patients. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 181–186. doi 10.1037/0022-006X.68.1. 181 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Meredith, W. (1993). Measurement invariance, factor analysis and factorial invariance. Psychometrika, 58, 525–543. doi 10.1007/BF02294825 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • * Mimura, C. , & Griffiths, P. (2007). A Japanese version of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Translation and equivalence assessment. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 62, 589–594. doi 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2006.11.004 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • * O’Brien, E. J. (1985). Global self-esteem scales: Unidimensional or multidimensional? Psychological Reports, 57, 383–389. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • O’Mara, A. J. , Marsh, H. W. , Craven, R. G. , Debus, R. L. (2006). Do self-concept interventions make a difference? A synergistic blend of construct validation and meta-analysis. Educational Psychologist, 41, 181–206. doi 10.1207/s15326985ep4103_4 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • * Pullmann, H. , & Allik, J. (2000). The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Its dimensionality, stability and personality correlates in Estonian. Personality and Individual Differences, 28, 701–715. doi 10.1016/S0191-8869(99)00132-4 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • * Sarková, M. , Nagyová, I. , Katreniaková, Z. , Gecková, A. M. , Orosová, O. , Middel, B. , ... van den Heuvel, W. (2006). Psychometric evaluation of the general health questionnaire-12 and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale in Hungarian and Slovak early adolescents. Studia Psychologica, 48, 69–79. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • * Schmitt, D. P. , Allik, J. (2005). Simultaneous administration of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale in 53 nations: Exploring the universal and culture-specific features of global self-esteem. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89, 623–642. doi 10.1037/0022-3514.89.4.623 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • * Serretti, A. , Olgiati, P. , Colombo, C. (2005). Components of self-esteem in affective patients and nonpsychiatric controls. Journal of Affective Disorders, 88, 93–98. doi 10.1016/j.jad.2005.05.008 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Shafer, A. (2005). Meta-analysis of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale factor structure. Psychological Assessment, 17, 324–335. doi 10.1037/1040-3590.17.3.324 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Shafer, A. B. (2006). Meta-analysis of the factor structures of four depression questionnaires: Beck, CES-D, Hamilton, and Zung. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62, 123–146. doi 10.1002/jclp.20213 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • * Shahani, C. , Dipboye, R. L. , Phillips, A. P. (1990). Global self-esteem as a correlate of work-related attitudes: A question of dimensionality. Journal of Personality Assessment, 54, 276–288. doi 10.1207/s15327752jpa5401&2_26 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Shavelson, R. J. , Bolus, R. (1982). Self-concept: The interplay of theory and methods. Journal of Educational Psychology, 74, 3–17. doi 10.1037/0022-0663.74.1.3 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • * Shelvin, M. E. , Bunting, B. P. , Lewis, C. A. (1995). Confirmatory factor analysis of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Psychological Reports, 76, 707–710. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • * Sobkowski, S. (1985). A modification and validation of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, State University of New York. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Tafarodi, R. W. , Miline, A. B. (2002). Decomposing global self-esteem. Journal of Personality, 70, 443–483. doi 10.1111/1467-6494.05017 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Taylor, T. L. , Montgomery, P. (2007). Can cognitive-behavioral therapy increase self-esteem among depressed adolescents? A systematic review. Children and Youth Services Review, 29, 823–839. doi 10.1016/j.childyouth.2007.01.010 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Tomás, J. M. , Oliver, A. (1999). Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale: Two factors or method effects. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 84–98. doi 10.1080/10705519909540120 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • * Whiteside-Mansell, L. , Corwyn, R. F. (2003). Mean and covariance structures analyses: An examination of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale among adolescents and adults. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 63, 163–173. doi 10.1177/0013164402239323 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar

  • Zwick, W. R. , Velicer, W. F. (1986). Factors influencing five rules for determining the number of components to retain. Psychological Bulletin, 99, 432–442. doi 10.1037/0033-2909.99.3.432 First citation in articleCrossrefGoogle Scholar