Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is your overall subjective sense of personal worth and value. It influences how you think, feel, and behave, and can change over time.

Definition

Self-esteem reflects how positively or negatively a person evaluates themselves. Healthy self-esteem supports resilience and wellbeing, while persistently low self-esteem can accompany depression and anxiety. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) is the most widely used measure of global self-worth.

What it can feel like

  • Feeling generally confident and capable.
  • Accepting mistakes without harsh self-criticism.
  • Or, with low self-esteem, frequent self-doubt.
  • Difficulty accepting compliments or feeling "good enough."

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Can self-esteem change?

Yes. Self-esteem is not fixed. It can shift with experiences, relationships, and deliberate work on self-compassion and skills.

What does the RSES measure?

The RSES is a 10-item scale measuring global self-worth, widely used in research since 1965.

Sources

  • Rosenberg M. Society and the Adolescent Self-Image (RSES)
  • APA — self-esteem overview

Last reviewed: 2026-07-02. Screening tools on LuriaLab are for education only and do not provide a diagnosis.