Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Take the RSES Online
This 10-item questionnaire explores global self-esteem, meaning your overall attitude toward yourself. After completing it, you will receive a total score and an educational explanation of the result.
What is the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale?
The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, commonly abbreviated as RSES, was developed by sociologist Morris Rosenberg to measure global self-esteem. It focuses on a person's overall evaluation of their worth and value.
The scale includes 10 statements answered on a four-point scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Some statements are positively worded and others negatively worded, so several items are reverse-scored when the total is calculated.
What does the score represent?
The total score reflects responses about self-worth, self-respect, self-acceptance, and overall attitudes toward oneself. Higher scores generally correspond to more positive global self-esteem.
There are no universal cutoff scores that reliably divide everyone into low, normal, or high self-esteem categories. The result should be understood in context and is not a psychological diagnosis.
Before you begin
Answer based on how you generally feel about yourself, rather than how you think you should feel. There are no right or wrong answers.
Take the questionnaire
Choose one response for each statement. After answering all 10 items, select “View My Score.”
0 out of 30
How to understand this score
Your score reflects your responses to statements about global self-esteem. Higher scores generally correspond to a more positive overall attitude toward yourself.
This result is not a diagnosis. There is no universal clinical cutoff that separates low, average, and high self-esteem for every person.
Questions for self-reflection
A total score provides only part of the picture. You may also want to reflect on your individual responses.
Which statements produced the strongest emotional reaction for you?
Does your attitude toward yourself change after mistakes, criticism, or setbacks?
How much does your sense of worth depend on achievements, roles, or other people's approval?
What helps you maintain a respectful attitude toward yourself during difficult periods?
For students and professionals
The RSES is a standardized self-report measure designed to assess global self-esteem. A single score should not be used as the sole basis for conclusions about a person's psychological functioning.
Use of psychological measures in professional practice should remain within the user's training, professional role, and applicable ethical and legal requirements.
Scientific sources
Official resource for the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The University of Maryland states that the scale is now in the public domain.
View sourceOfficial instructions for response options, scoring, reverse-scored items, and the 0 to 30 score range.
View scoring instructionsFoundational publication associated with the development of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.