Psychometric properties of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale among Honduran college students: reliability, validity, factor structure, and measurement invariance

Abstract

Introduction: Self-esteem, defined as the general evaluation of one's personal worth, is fundamental for understanding individuals' well-being. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) is one of the most widely used instruments to measure this construct, but its psychometric properties had not been assessed in the Honduran population. Method: In this cross-sectional study, the RSES was administered to 791 university students. To estimate construct validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted, and internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and the omega coefficient. Convergent internal and discriminant validity were analyzed using the extracted mean variance and the heterotrait-monotrait ratio. Convergent external and divergent validity were evaluated through correlations with emotional distress and resilience measures. Measurement invariance between men and women was also examined. Results: The exploratory factor analysis extracted two factors that explained 70% of the total variance, a structure supported by the confirmatory factor analysis with excellent fit indices. Convergent internal and discriminant validity were demonstrated, and measurement invariance was confirmed at all levels. The results showed significant positive correlations with the Brief Resilience Scale and negative correlations with the depression, anxiety, and stress subscales of the DASS-21. High internal consistency was observed. Discussion: The results support the reliability and validity of the RSES in the Honduran context, supporting its use for measuring self-esteem in the university population of Honduras.