Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES)
See what the scale measures, how it is scored, and how a result is read against the population that actually fits you.
The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale is a short, public-domain measure of global self-esteem - a person's overall sense of their own worth. First published by Morris Rosenberg in 1965, it is the single most widely used self-esteem measure in the world, with ten statements that take about three minutes to answer.
The model
What it measures
The RSES measures one thing: global self-esteem, the overall positive or negative attitude a person holds toward themselves. It is deliberately unidimensional - there are no separate scored subscales, just a single total.
The aspects below are conceptual facets of how self-worth shows up in everyday life - self-acceptance, self-respect and quiet confidence - not separately scored dimensions. Five statements are worded positively and five negatively (and reverse-keyed) so the scale does not simply reward agreeing with everything; the total is the sum of all ten.
- SESelf-Esteem
Global self-worth - the overall positive or negative orientation toward oneself.
Facets: Self-worth, Self-acceptance, Self-respect, Confidence.
The evidence
Science and validity
The RSES is one of the most thoroughly researched instruments in psychology. Internal consistency is consistently strong - Cronbach's alpha typically falls between about .77 and .90 across samples and translations - and test-retest reliability over two weeks sits around .85. It correlates in the expected directions with depression, anxiety and other self-esteem measures, and in a 53-nation study its single-factor structure was largely invariant across cultures.
You rate each of ten statements on a 4-point agree-disagree scale. The five negatively worded statements are reverse-keyed so that, after reversal, a higher value always means more self-esteem, and the ten items are summed (commonly to a 10-40 range). There are no pass/fail cut-offs; the result is norm-referenced against a comparison group. A persistent technical finding is that the positively and negatively worded items can split into two correlated method factors, but the scale is still used and scored as a single total.
Where you stand
How a score becomes a percentile
A raw score only means something against a comparison group. For example, on the common 10-40 metric a self-esteem total of 34 sits a little above the average for large multinational adult data (where the mean is near 31), placing it around the 75th percentile - higher self-esteem than roughly three in four adults. Drag the slider to see how a score maps to a percentile; your real result is matched to the population that fits you when you take the test.
The reference data
Benchmarked against the population that fits you
We benchmark your result against the population that actually resembles you, across 53 reference groups.
Each reference group is used as its own benchmark, not to rank one country against another.
How it works
What the questions feel like
Illustrative statements showing the style of the items. These are examples, not the official scored items.
On the whole, I am content with the person I am.
Illustrative example in the style of the scale, not an official scored item.
I feel I have several qualities worth valuing.
Illustrative example, not an official scored item.
At times I feel I have little to be proud of.
Illustrative reverse-worded example, not an official scored item.
I am able to do most things as capably as other people.
Illustrative example, not an official scored item.
Honest strengths and limitations
Strengths
- The most widely used self-esteem measure in the world, with strong reliability and decades of validation across 53+ nations.
- Very short (about 3 minutes) and fully public domain, free to use without permission.
- A clear, single global score that is easy to interpret and to track over time.
Limitations
- It is a single global score, not a profile - it tells you the overall level of self-esteem, not which life areas it comes from.
- Like all self-reports it can be shaped by mood and self-presentation, and it captures how someone feels now rather than a fixed trait.
- Cross-country mean comparisons are confounded by response styles and measurement differences, so percentiles are a guide, not a verdict.
See your full profile
A complete report, matched to the population that fits you, with plain-language interpretation of every trait.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale measure?
It measures global self-esteem - a person's overall sense of their own worth - with ten short statements. It is deliberately unidimensional: there is one total score rather than separate subscales.
How is the RSES scored?
Each of the ten items is rated on a 4-point agree-disagree scale. The five negatively worded items are reverse-keyed so higher always means more self-esteem, and the items are summed - commonly to a 10-40 range. There are no official clinical cut-offs; the score is read against a comparison group.
Is the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale free to use?
Yes. The RSES is in the public domain and free to use without permission, per the statement from the Rosenberg family and the University of Maryland. On Psychology.me, the free Snapshot gives you a quick read on self-esteem alongside other traits.
How long does it take?
About three minutes - ten statements on a 4-point scale.
Related tests
- Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the Adolescent Self-Image. Princeton University Press.
- Schmitt, D. P., & Allik, J. (2005). Simultaneous administration of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale in 53 nations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89(4), 623-642.
The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale is the work of Morris Rosenberg (1965) and is in the public domain; this independent informational page describes the instrument.