Paper Title
Factorial Structure of Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale in Arab Populations: The Effect of Negatively Worded Items
Abstract
This study analyzed how negatively worded items affect the factor structure of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
(RSES) in Arab Populations. A sample of 480 students from a medium-sized public university in the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) participated in the study. The statistical analysis used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with Principal Axis Factoring
(PAF) as an extraction method, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and internal reliability analysis. The results showed that
the scale has two factors (bidimensional): The first one has an eigenvalue of 2.56 and could explain 25.58% of the total
variance while the second factor has an eigenvalue of 1.60 and could explain 16.03% of the total variance. The inter-factor
correlation between the two factors was .15. Examining the items and their loadings on each factor revealed that the first
factor consists of the positively worded items while the second factor consists of the negatively worded items. The internal
reliability of the whole scale (10 items) was less than the reliability of the negatively worded items (5 items). The study
concluded that negatively worded items undesirably impact the RSES factor structure and internal reliability.
Keywords - Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Negatively Worded Items, Factor Structure, Factor Analysis, Reliability.