Adapting and validating the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale for elderly Spanish population

Area of Science:

• Psychological assessment
• Gerontology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Self-esteem is crucial for well-being in older adults.
• The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) is a widely used measure.
• Validation in specific populations ensures accurate assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and validate the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) for the elderly Spanish population.
• To confirm the one-factor structure of the RSES in this demographic.
• To assess the reliability and validity of the adapted scale.

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test factorial validity.
• The study involved 231 elderly participants in Valencia, Spain.
• Participants completed the RSES, sociodemographic data, and the Mini-Mental State Examination.

Main Results:

• The adapted RSES demonstrated a unifactorial structure with good fit indices.
• Reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach's alpha of .732.
• The scale showed good internal consistency for the elderly Spanish population.

Conclusions:

• The adapted Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) is a valid and reliable measure for Spanish elders.
• Its unifactorial structure and good internal consistency facilitate its use.
• This validated instrument can aid clinical practice and research involving older adults.