Self-esteem
LASA filenames:
LASA027 / LASA227
Contact: Almar Kok
Background
Self-esteem reflects a person’s overall evaluation or appraisal of his or her own worth.
It is generally considered as an enduring personality characteristic, although normal, short-term variations occur. Self-esteem can apply to a specific dimension (for example, “I believe I am a good bridge player, and feel proud of that”) or to a global evaluation (for example, “On the whole, I am satisfied with myself”). In LASA, global self-esteem is included.
Measurement instrument in LASA
Self-esteem is measured by an adapted version of the Rosenberg Self-esteem scale (Rosenberg 1965), which consists of 10 items, with categories ranging from 1=strongly agree to 5=strongly disagree. In LASA, 4 items are included. Self-esteem is part of the main interview.
Scale construction
The scale score is the sum of the ratings, with a range from 4 to 20 such that a higher rating indicates more self-esteem. Because of the small number of items, no imputation is performed in case of missing items.
Questionnaires
LASAB027 / LASAC027 / LASAD027 / LASAE027 / LAS2B027 / LASAF027 / LASAG027 / LASAH027 / LAS3B027 / LASAI027 / LASAJ027 / LASAK027 (main interview: in Dutch)
Variable information (also includes documentation on Mastery)
LASAB027 / LASAC027 / LASAD027 / LASAE027 / LAS2B027 / LASAF027 / LASAG027 / LASAH027 / LAS3B027 / LASAI027 / LASAJ027 / LASAK027;
LASAC227 / LASAD227 / LASAE227 / LAS2B227 / LASAF227 / LASAG227 / LASAH227 / LAS3B227 / LASAI227 / LASAJ227 / LASAK227 (constructed variables)
(pdf)
Availability of information per wave ¹
| B | C | D | E | 2B* | F | G | H | 3B* | MB* | I | J | K | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-esteem: first item only | Ma | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Self-esteem: all 4 items | - | Ma | Ma | Ma | Ma | Ma | Ma | Ma | Ma | - | Ma | Ma | Ma | |
¹ More information about the LASA data collection waves is available here.
* 2B=baseline second cohort;
3B=baseline third cohort;
MB=migrants: baseline first cohort
Ma=data collected in main interview
Previous use within LASA
Within LASA different self-esteem has been examined in relation with deteriorating health and well-being (Jonker et al. 2008; 2009; vd Kamp et al. 2008), and in relation to mastery (Schuijt & Deeg, 2006), and as one of the covariates in the association between age-cohort and perceived constraints (Drewelies, Deeg, Huisman, & Gerstorf, 2018).
References
- Jonker AA, Comijs HC, Knipscheer KCJM, & Deeg DJ. Persistent deterioration of functioning (PDF) and change in well-being in older persons. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research 2008, 20(5):461-8.
- Jonker AGC, Comijs HC, Knipscheer CPM, Deeg DJH (2009). The role of coping resources on change in well-being during persistent health decline. Journal of Aging and Health, 21,8, 1063-1082.
- Kamp K van de, Braam AW, Deeg DJ. Verschuiving van de ervaren gezondheid van 55-64-jarigen tussen 1992/1993 en 2002/2003. Verklarende factoren. [Shift in the self-perceived health of 55-64-year olds between 1992 and 2002]. Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr. 2008, 39(5):182-92. Dutch.
- Rosenberg M. Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1965.
- Schuijt-Lucassen NY, Deeg DJ. [Predicting loss of mastery in older adults] Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr. 2006;37(6):243-53. Dutch.
- Drewelies, J., Deeg, D. J., Huisman, M., & Gerstorf, D. (2018). Perceived constraints in late midlife: Cohort differences in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). Psychology and aging, 33(5), 754.
Date of last update: December, 2019
