Psychometric Properties of the Self-Esteem Inventory for Children

The study aimed to establish the psychometric properties of the Culture-Free Self-Esteem Inventory (CFSEI; Battle, 2002). The inventory was administered to 600 students (300 girls, 300 boys) aged between 6 and 8 years. The participants were selected from public preschools, and from the first and the second grade of public primary schools located in northern and southern parts of Tehran using stage sampling method. The results of criterion validity, differential validity, and construct validity of the CFSEI were analyzed. To examine the convergent validity of the CFSEI, the Piers-Harris Children’s Self Concept Scale (PHCSCS; Piers, 1984) was used. The results indicated that CFSEI had a positive and significant association with the PHCSCS. To establish the divergent validity of the CFSEI, the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS; Spence, 1998) was used. The results indicated that the CFSEI had a negative and significant association with the SCAS. Except for one question which didn’t have an acceptable coefficient of determination which was removed from the CFSEI, the validity of the CFSEI was confirmed. To establish the reliability of the CFSEI, split half, test-retest and Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 were used. The results indicated that the CFSEI had good reliability. The findings suggest that the CFSEI is a reliable and valid tool to employ with Iranian children.