Evaluation of a Measure of Self‐Esteem Based on the Concept of Unconditional Self‐Regard

Abstract

A measure of unconditional self‐regard (USR) derived from Rogerian (client‐centered) theory was evaluated in four studies. Results indicated that USR was highly reliable and was strongly related to other measures of self‐esteem and negatively related to depression, anxiety, and symptoms of psychological distress. The measure was significantly related to the control and commitment dimensions of psychological hardiness but not to its challenge dimension. Evidence for discriminant validity was provided by findings that USR was unrelated to social desirability or private self‐consciousness. Finally, female students'self‐regard was significantly related to the unconditional positive regard they reported receiving from their mothers. Other correlations between self‐regard and perceived regard from others, although nonsignificant, were often large in absolute value. Implications for counseling interventions are discussed.