From Inner Fortitude to Self-Worth: How Ego Strength Shapes Self-Esteem through Self-Concept Clarity

Ego strength, defined as the capacity to maintain self-regulation and psychological integration under stress, may help shape a coherent sense of self. This study examined whether self-concept clarity (SCC) mediates the association between ego strength and global self-esteem. A sample of 106 undergraduates completed the 18-item Ego Strength Scale, the Self-Concept Clarity Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. All measures demonstrated adequate internal consistency. Ego strength, SCC, and self-esteem were positively correlated. Mediation analyses supported full mediation: ego strength predicted self-esteem through SCC, and the direct effect became nonsignificant once SCC was included. These findings suggest that ego strength contributes to stable self-representations, which in turn foster positive self-evaluations. Results highlight SCC as a key mechanism linking internal regulatory capacities to self-esteem, with implications for developmental, personality, and clinical research.