Measuring Global Self-Esteem: Construct Validation of a Single-Item Measure and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale

TLDR

The authors conducted four studies to examine the construct validity of the Single‑Item Self‑Esteem Scale and the Rosenberg Self‑Esteem Scale. Across diverse adult samples, the two scales demonstrated strong, nearly identical convergent validity with a wide array of criterion measures, whereas the Single‑Item scale showed only moderate validity in children. These results confirm the reliability and validity of the Single‑Item scale as a practical alternative to the Rosenberg scale for adults and extend the nomological network of global self‑esteem.

Abstract

Four studies examined the construct validity of two global self-esteem measures. In Studies 1 through 3, the Single-Item Self-Esteem Scale (SISE) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) showed strong convergent validity for men and women, for different ethnic groups, and for both college students and community members. The SISE and the RSE had nearly identical correlations with a wide range of criterion measures, including domain-specific self-evaluations, self-evaluative biases, social desirability, personality, psychological and physical health, peer ratings of group behavior, academic outcomes, and demographic variables. Study 4 showed that the SISE had only moderate convergent validity in a sample of children. Overall, the findings support the reliability and validity of the SISE and suggest it can provide a practical alternative to the RSE in adult samples. More generally, the findings contribute to the research literature by further elaborating the nomological network of global self-esteem.