Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

A structural equation model was developed to examine the relationships between the self-esteem and defensiveness scales of the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory. Data were analysed for a sample of over 800 New Zealand children using methods of confirmatory factor analysis. The fitted model suggested that the data were consistent with an hierarchical model in which the observed self-esteem scores were fallible indicators of self-esteem in four specific areas of experience. These areas in turn were subsumed by a higher-order factor of global self-esteem. The model also suggested that defensive responding systematically contaminated the subjects' over-all reporting of self-esteem. Model estimates showed that between 28% and 54% of the variance in the self-esteem indicators arose from random errors of measurement and a further 1% to 3% was due to the effects of defensiveness. It is suggested that confirmatory factor analytic methods should be used in further analyses of the relationship between self-esteem and other measures to take account of possible biases arising from these sources.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bentler

P. M.

Bonett

D. G.

(1980) Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures. Psychological Bulletin, 88, 588–606.

Berk

R. A.

(1983) An introduction to sample selection bias in sociological data. American Sociological Review, 48, 386–398.

Coopersmith

(1967) The antecedents of self-esteem. San Francisco, CA: Freeman.

Coopersmith

(1981) SEI—Self-esteem Inventories. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

Edgar

Powell

R. J.

Watkins

Moore

R. J.

Zakharov

(1974) An analysis of the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory: A discussion of two studies. Australian Psychologist, 9, 52–63.

Fergusson

D. M.

Horwood

L. J.

(1983) Childhood disadvantage and the planning of pregnancy. Social Science and Medicine, 17, 1223–1227.

Fergusson

D. M.

Horwood

L. J.

Shannon

F. T.

(1986) Absenteeism amongst primary school children. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 21, 3–12.

Fleming

J. S.

Courtney

B. E.

(1984) The dimensionality of self-esteem: II. Hierarchical facet model for revised measurement scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 404–421.

Jöreskog

K. G.

Sorbom

(1984) LISREL VI: Analysis of linear structural relationships by the method of maximum likelihood. Mooresville, IN: Scientific Software.

10.

Kokenes

(1978) A factor analytic study of the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory. Adolescence, 13, 149–155.

11.

Long

J. S.

(1983a) Confirmatory factor analysis: A preface to LISREL. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

12.

Long

J. S.

(1983b) Covariance structure models: An introduction to LISREL. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

13.

Marsh

H. W.

Smith

I. D.

(1982) Multitrait-multimethod analyses of two self-concept instruments. Journal of Educational Psychology, 74, 430–440.

14.

Maruyama

Rubin

R. A.

Kingsbury

G. G.

(1981) Self-esteem and educational achievement: Independent constructs with a common cause? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 40, 962–975.

15.

Nicholls

J. G.

(1967) Anxiety, defensiveness, self-esteem, and responsibility for intellectual achievement: Their relations to intelligence and reading achievement test scores. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 2, 125–135.

16.

Peterson

Austin

J. T.

(1985) Review of Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventories. In Mitchell

J. V.

Jr. (Ed.), The ninth mental measurements yearbook. Vol. 1. Lincoln, NE: Univer. of Nebraska Press Pp 396–397.

17.

Roberson

T. G.

Miller

(1986) The Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory: A factor analytic study. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 46, 269–273.

18.

Schmitt

(1978) Path analysis of multitrait-multimethod matrices. Applied Psychological Measurement, 2, 157–173.

19.

Shavelson

R. J.

Hubner

J. J.

Stanton

G. C.

(1976) Self-concept: Validation of construct interpretations. Review of Educational Research, 46, 407–441.

Self-Esteem and Defensiveness: An Analysis of the Self-Esteem Inventory

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References