Description

The Single-Item Self-Esteem Scale (SISE) is a brief psychometric instrument designed to measure an individual’s global self-esteem using a single question.

The scale provides a simple and rapid method for assessing self-esteem while maintaining the ability to provide an estimate of this important psychological characteristic, which is associated with psychological well-being and personal satisfaction.

Due to its brevity, the SISE is particularly suitable for large-scale research studies, surveys, and clinical settings where a quick assessment of self-esteem is required.

Objective

The primary objective of the SISE is to provide a quick and practical measurement of self-esteem.

The scale aims to assess the individual’s overall perception of self-worth and provide an indicator of general self-evaluation.

It can be used in research and applied settings where participant burden must be minimized while still obtaining information about self-esteem levels.

Structure and Content

The SISE consists of one single statement evaluating an individual’s self-esteem.

The item is:

“In general, I feel good about myself.”

The response reflects the individual’s overall evaluation of their self-esteem rather than specific domains of self-perception.

Scoring

The response is rated using a five-point Likert scale.

The scoring system is:

1 = Strongly Disagree
2 = Disagree
3 = Neutral
4 = Agree
5 = Strongly Agree

The final score provides an estimate of the participant’s level of self-esteem. Higher scores indicate a more positive global evaluation of oneself.

Data Analysis and Use

The SISE provides a concise quantitative indicator of global self-esteem.

The data obtained can be used in studies examining relationships between self-esteem and psychological variables such as well-being, life satisfaction, social functioning, motivation, and mental health.

Because of its simplicity and short administration time, the scale is appropriate for large population studies, repeated measurements, and research protocols where longer self-esteem instruments may not be practical.

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis of SISE data may include descriptive statistics, such as means, standard deviations, and score distributions, to describe overall self-esteem levels.

Correlation analyses may be used to examine associations between self-esteem and other psychological or behavioural variables.

Regression analyses may investigate whether self-esteem predicts outcomes such as well-being, social adjustment, academic performance, or emotional functioning.

Comparative analyses may examine differences in self-esteem scores between demographic or clinical groups.

Validity

The validity of the SISE is supported by research examining the relationship between single-item self-esteem measurement and established multidimensional self-esteem instruments.

Studies have compared single-item self-esteem scores with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, demonstrating that a single-item measure can provide a meaningful estimate of global self-esteem.

Reliability

As a single-item measure, the SISE does not evaluate internal consistency through multiple items. Instead, reliability is typically examined through associations with established self-esteem measures and stability across repeated assessments.

Research has investigated the psychometric properties of single-item self-esteem assessment and its relationship with traditional self-esteem scales.

References

Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the Adolescent Self-Image. Princeton University Press.

Robins, R. W., Hendin, M., & Trzesniewski, K. H. (2001). Measuring global self-esteem: Construct validation of a single-item measure and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27(2), 151–161.

Heatherton, T. F., & Polivy, J. (1991). Development and validation of a scale for measuring state self-esteem. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60(6), 895–910.

Schmitt, D. P., & Allik, J. (2005). Simplifying Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 39(3), 629–639.

Swann, W. B., & Buhrmester, M. D. (2012). Self-Esteem and the Need to Belong: A Theoretical Integration. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102(3), 614–632.