Self-esteem: 10 questionnaires and rating scales

Self-esteem questionnaires are psychometric tools that measure how people evaluate their own worth. They help identify low self-esteem, assess its intensity and track how it changes in clinical practice.

Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale

RSES

Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES)

This questionnaire aims to measure an individual's level of self-esteem. It consists of 10 statements about personal feelings and self-image. Respondents indicate their degree of agreement with each statement, which makes it possible to assess their global self-esteem and self-acceptance.

10 questions~2 minAdolescents, adults
Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory

SEI

Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI)

The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory is a psychological assessment tool used to measure a person's level of self-esteem. It is intended for various populations and helps clinicians better understand how a person perceives their own personal worth. It is a self-report questionnaire that the participant can complete independently.

58 questions~20 minChildren and adults
Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale, Second Edition

PHCSCS-2

Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale, Second Edition (PHCSCS-2)

The PHCSCS-2 is a self-report tool designed to measure global self-esteem and its dimensions in children and adolescents. It provides a detailed profile of self-concept across several domains, making it useful for screening, intervention planning, and psychological research.

60 questions~10 minChildren, adolescents
State Self-Esteem Scale

SSES

State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES)

The State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES) is a self-report questionnaire for assessing self-esteem as experienced at a specific moment, as opposed to general or trait self-esteem. It measures fluctuations in self-esteem following various life events or experimental stimuli, across three dimensions: performance, social appearance, and social esteem.

20 questions~5 minAdults, adolescents
Coping Self-Efficacy Scale

CSE

Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSE)

The Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSE) is a self-report tool measuring a person's confidence in their ability to use effective coping strategies in difficult or stressful situations. It assesses perceived self-efficacy in different coping domains (enlisting social support, managing emotions, problem solving) and can be used for monitoring in psychotherapy or during clinical assessments.

26 questions~10 minAdults
Self-Objectification Questionnaire

SOQ

Self-Objectification Questionnaire (SOQ)

The Self-Objectification Questionnaire assesses the degree to which people internalize an objectified view of their own body, studied mainly in women but also applicable to men. It helps measure how values related to physical appearance influence behavior and self-esteem.

10 questions~3 minAdults
General Self-Efficacy Scale

GSE

General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE)

The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) assesses an individual's general belief in their ability to cope with a variety of life situations. It is a widely used tool for measuring perceived self-confidence and the motivation to take on personal and professional challenges.

10 questions~5 minAdults, adolescents
Scale of Perceived Social Self-Efficacy

SPSSE

Scale of Perceived Social Self-Efficacy (SPSSE)

The SPSSE assesses the level of confidence an individual feels in their ability to handle a variety of social situations effectively. It is particularly used to measure social self-efficacy in adolescents and young adults in clinical or research settings, and it helps identify potential difficulties in social interactions.

25 questions~10 minAdolescents, young adults
Self-Liking and Self-Competence Scale

SLCS

Self-Liking and Self-Competence Scale (SLCS)

The Self-Liking and Self-Competence Scale (SLCS) measures two distinct dimensions of self-esteem: the sense of personal worth (self-liking) and the perception of one's own competence (self-competence). This questionnaire helps differentiate the affective and cognitive aspects of self-esteem and can be useful in clinical assessment, research, or therapeutic follow-up with adolescents and adults.

16 questions~5 minAdolescents, adults
Self-Confidence Test

SCT

Self-Confidence Test (SCT)

This questionnaire is designed to assess individuals' levels of self-confidence. It assesses three fundamental aspects: self-confidence, assertiveness skills and self-esteem.

20 questions~5 min

Frequently asked questions

What does a self-esteem scale measure?

Most often, the person's overall evaluation of their own worth. Some tools explore specific domains.

Is self-esteem stable?

It has a stable component and a component sensitive to context and life events; monitoring helps document how it changes.

Why assess it in session?

Because low self-esteem accompanies many disorders and can be a treatment target in its own right.

Self-esteem in clinical practice

Self-esteem refers to a person's overall judgment of their own worth. It is a transdiagnostic dimension, often lowered in depression, anxiety and eating disorders.

Scales quantify self-esteem and how it changes; they shed light on psychological vulnerability and can serve as a treatment target.

  • Self-esteem is a transdiagnostic factor, not a disorder in itself, and is not a DSM-5 diagnosis.
  • Low self-esteem is associated with an increased risk of anxiety and depressive disorders.
  • Global self-esteem differs from self-esteem specific to certain domains (social, physical, competence).