The dimensionality of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) with South African University Students

Abstract

The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) has been the subject of widespread debate over the years. Initially conceptualised by Rosenberg as a undimensional measure of global self-esteem, other studies have found evidence that challenges this notion, suggesting that this scale is in fact a multidimensional measure. The aim of this study was to investigate the construct validity of the RSES among South African university students. The RSES was administered to students from two different South African universities located in different regions (N = 304). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used in order to investigate the factor structure of the RSES and correlations were run between the RSES and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (SGSES) to investigate the relationship between self-esteem and self-efficacy. The PCA findings yielded a single factor structure of the RSES in the South African university student sample and a significant positive correlation was observed between self-esteem and self-efficacy. The findings therefore supported the construct validity of the RSES within the South African university context.