Use of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale with Adult Cancer Patients

Self-esteem in cancer patients has received considerable attention during the last decade. This article describes one measure of self-esteem, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), and reviews the results of 16 studies that have used this measure. The following observations concerning this body of literature are discussed: (1) no definitive picture of self-esteem in cancer patients has emerged because of differences in scoring the RSE, (2) global self-esteem, as measured by the RSE, may not be the only aspect of self-concept that is relevant to cancer patients, and (3) self-esteem, although routinely considered to be an outcome variable in cancer research, also can be conceptualized as a causal agent. The relationship between hypothetical mechanisms of how self-esteem is involved in adapting to cancer and possible interventions also is addressed.