The relationship between contingent self-esteem and trait self-esteem

Psychology researchers have suggested that in addition to its level, selfesteem is also manifested by other psychological components. One such component is contingency, which is the degree to which one's feeling of self-worth is influenced by evaluative standards. I investigated how contingent self-esteem is related to trait self-esteem using Paradise and Kernis' Contingent Self-Esteem Scale and Rosenberg's (trait) Self-Esteem Scale. Data collected from classroom (N = 898) and Internet (N = 655) groups rendered a significant and consistent negative relationship between contingent and trait self-esteem. In addition, higher contingent self-esteem individuals tend to have a greater variability with their trait self-esteem levels; as individuals age, their contingent self-esteem tends to decrease; psychological sensitivity to evaluations is the contingent component most strongly associated with the level of self-esteem; and some evaluative resources, such as appearance, performance, and relationship, can be used by some individuals to boost their self-esteem. Future researchers should consider that the contingency of self-esteem is the psychological component not only related to the stability of self-esteem but also to the level of self-esteem.