Ten items on how you value yourself overall. The RSES, created by social psychologist Morris Rosenberg in 1965, is the most widely used measure of self-esteem worldwide. It taps global self-worth — whether you see yourself as valuable, capable and worthy of care. Ten items, five reverse-scored.
Self-esteem is the relatively stable sense of your overall worth. It shapes how you interpret criticism, how you set boundaries and how you show up in relationships. The RSES measures trait self-esteem, not your mood at this moment.
A lower score suggests a self-critical style, often accompanied by perfectionism, fear of mistakes and people-pleasing. The good news: self-esteem can be improved with practice — especially by softening self-attack and accumulating real, small evidence of competence.
Low self-esteem often co-occurs with depression and anxiety. If your score is low together with persistent low mood, take the PHQ-9 as well and consider counselling — self-esteem is an area therapy works well on.
Scoring & bands
Answer based on how you generally feel about yourself.
0–14 · Low self-esteem: Your score suggests low overall self-worth, often accompanied by self-criticism, fear of mistakes or difficulty acknowledging yourself. This is a changeable pattern, not a fact about you.
15–25 · Normal range: Your score suggests healthy, mid-range self-esteem — a basic acceptance of yourself that includes your imperfections.
26–30 · High self-esteem: Your score suggests high self-worth: you generally accept and value yourself — a healthy form of self-affirmation.
FAQ
Is very high self-esteem a bad thing?
The scale measures healthy self-worth. Genuinely excessive grandiosity combined with dismissing others is a different construct (narcissism) that the RSES does not measure. A high score usually just reflects good self-acceptance.
Do reverse-scored items affect my score?
Five items (like "I tend to think I'm a failure") are reverse-scored automatically. Just answer honestly.
Can low self-esteem change?
Yes. Noticing the self-critical voice, believing it less, acting on your values and collecting real experiences all build self-esteem. CBT has a strong evidence base for this work.
Source: Rosenberg M. Society and the Adolescent Self-Image. Princeton University Press, 1965
All scales on this site are widely used self-report instruments for self-understanding and screening only — they cannot replace a professional diagnosis. If you need help, please consult a doctor or therapist.