Understand the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Test
What it measures, where it comes from, and how to use your results with care.
This page explains what the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) can tell you—and what it cannot. It’s for reflection and learning, not diagnosis.
If your results feel heavy, you do not have to handle it alone. Consider reaching out to someone you trust or a qualified professional.
What is self-esteem?
Concept
Self-esteem is your overall sense of how worthy, capable, and acceptable you feel as a person. It is not one single thought, but a pattern in how you see and talk to yourself over time.
Researchers often describe self-esteem as "global"—it shapes how you evaluate yourself across many situations, not just one moment or role.
Healthy self-esteem does not mean feeling great all the time. It usually looks more like a balanced, realistic, and basically kind relationship with yourself.
What is the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale?
Measure
The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) is a 10-item questionnaire developed by sociologist Morris Rosenberg in the 1960s. It is one of the most widely used tools in research on self-esteem.
Some statements are positive (for example, feeling that you have good qualities); others are negative (for example, feeling like a failure). Negative items are reverse-scored so that higher total scores reflect higher self-esteem.
This site uses a 4-point response format and offers a full 10-item version plus a shorter 5-item version for quick snapshots. The shorter version is best for tracking trends, not for making important decisions on its own.
How to use this test wisely
Practice
Answer honestly, not ideally
Try to answer based on how you truly feel most of the time, not how you think you "should" feel. There are no right or wrong answers.
Treat it as a snapshot, not a verdict
Your score reflects how you responded at one point in time. It can change with context, life events, and support. Use it as information, not a label.
Look at patterns and trends
The most helpful insights often come from patterns over time: which items feel consistently low or high for you, and how your overall score shifts across different periods in your life.
How to read your results safely
Safety
Screening tool, not a diagnosis
This test can highlight how harsh or kind your self-view currently feels. It cannot diagnose depression, anxiety, or any mental health condition. For diagnosis or treatment, talk with a qualified professional.
Low scores can be a signal to seek support
A lower score does not mean you are less worthy—it usually means you may be going through a difficult period in how you see yourself. If your score is low and you feel distressed, consider reaching out to someone you trust or a mental health professional.
If you feel unsafe or hopeless
If answering these questions makes you feel hopeless or unsafe, this site is not enough on its own. Please contact local emergency services, crisis hotlines, or trusted professionals in your area as soon as you can.
Next steps
If you’d like, here are a few useful places to go from here.
Get a quick score and an interpretation you can revisit later.
See the scoring rules, ranges, and implementation notes.
Learn how data is handled and what stays on your device.
Common questions about the scale, results, and safety.
If you’re overwhelmed, find support-oriented guidance.