Do I Have Low Self-Esteem?
Free Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale screening. 10 questions, 2 minutes. The gold-standard self-esteem measure used by psychologists and therapists globally.
Before You Start
- This is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test
- All answers are processed in your browser only
- No data is stored or sent to any server
- Results can be copied to share with your clinician
What Is the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale?
The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) is the most widely used measure of global self-esteem in psychology, developed by sociologist Dr Morris Rosenberg in 1965. Despite being over 50 years old, it remains the gold standard — cited in over 50,000 research papers and translated into more than 40 languages. The RSES measures your overall sense of self-worth and self-acceptance through 10 simple statements. It takes about 2 minutes to complete and provides a clear, validated snapshot of how you feel about yourself.
Signs You Might Benefit From This Screening
Low self-esteem affects approximately 1 in 4 people and is associated with depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, and reduced quality of life. You might benefit from this screening if you frequently compare yourself unfavourably to others, feel you are not good enough, find it hard to accept compliments, avoid new challenges for fear of failure, or feel that your worth depends on your achievements. Self-esteem is not fixed — it can change with awareness, support, and therapeutic work.
How the RSES Works
The RSES consists of 10 statements — 5 positively worded (e.g., "I feel that I have a number of good qualities") and 5 negatively worded (e.g., "I certainly feel useless at times"). Each is rated from 0 (strongly disagree) to 3 (strongly agree), with negative items reverse-scored. Total scores range from 0 to 30. Scores below 15 suggest low self-esteem, 15–25 indicate normal self-esteem, and scores above 25 indicate high self-esteem.
What Happens After the Screening?
If your RSES score suggests low self-esteem, consider discussing this with a psychologist, counsellor, or creative arts therapist. Therapeutic approaches including cognitive behavioural therapy, compassion-focused therapy, and creative arts therapy have strong evidence for improving self-esteem. Creative approaches can be particularly powerful — art-making, music, and movement can help you reconnect with your strengths and develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself. The RSES is useful for tracking progress over time, as a change of 4–5 points is considered clinically meaningful.