Self-Esteem in Adult Prison Population: The Development and Validation of the Self-Esteem Measure for Prisoners (SEM-P)

Abstract

The main aim of the current study was to develop and validate the Self-Esteem Measure for Prisoners (SEM-P), composed of personal and prison self-esteem, among a systematically selected sample of prisoners (N = 1,794). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the SEM-P was best captured with the bifactor conceptualization reflecting two grouping factors (personal and prison self-esteem) and one general factor. Although factor loadings were stronger for the general factor, the two grouping factors evidenced good differential predictive validity. The SEM-P is a reliable and valid measure of self-esteem among inmates because it considers the importance of prison culture for self-evaluations.

Construct Validity and Dimensionality of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Its Association with Spiritual Values Within Irish Population

“…The findings confirmed that SE functions as a twofold construct rather than as a monolithic form. This is in line with previous research of Debowska et al (2017), Hyland et al (2014), McKay et al (2014, and Boduszek et al (2012Boduszek et al ( , 2013. Secondly, it was to investigate a correlation between SE and spiritual factors.…”

“…According to Hyland et al (2014), people have different associations with positive and negative expressions. Debowska et al (2017) conclude that high SE associates with different psychological spans than its relative low SE.…”

“…Therefore, the current exploration is not just interesting, but a required complement to the research in spirituality, in the light of recent findings on SE as twofold construct, hence the purpose of this paper. In accordance with recent findings (Debowska et al 2017;Hyland et al 2014;McKay et al 2014;Boduszek et al 2012Boduszek et al , 2013, RSES will be applied as a twofold structure divided into self-esteem positive (SEP) and self-esteem-negative (SEN). All the above domains associated with spirituality will be implemented into the investigation of their prediction on self-esteem.…”

“…The two models include: a one-factor model (all items) and a two-factor model (self-esteem positive comprising of items SelfEs1, SelfEs2, SelfEs3, SelfEs4, SelfEs10, and self-esteem negative comprising of items SelfEs5, SelfEs6, SelfEs7, SelfEs8, SelfEs9). The specified models in this study allowed items to load only onto a single factor, with uncorrelated measurement error terms as suggested in previous research (Debowska et al 2017;Hyland et al 2014;McKay et al 2014;Boduszek et al 2012Boduszek et al , 2013. Table 3 presents both absolute and comparative fit indices for each model.…”

“…Recent debate is centred on its use as an all-inclusive construct or as a twofold variable scheme. The studies of Debowska et al (2017), Sharratt et al (2014), Boduszek et al (2013), and Boduszek et al (2012) suggest that the twofold structure is a more appropriate manner of applying RSES in social studies. Recent research applying the bifactorial modelling also confirmed the two-dimensional nature of the self-esteem construct (Hyland et al 2014;McKay et al 2014).…”