Self-esteem as an outcome measure in studies of vocational rehabilitation for adults with severe mental illness

Psychiatr Serv. 2000 Feb;51(2):229-33. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.51.2.229.

Abstract

Objective: Self-esteem is widely used as an outcome variable in studies of psychiatric rehabilitation, based on the assumption that improved functional status leads to higher self-esteem. Little is known, however, about the determinants of self-esteem among adults with severe mental illness. The utility of a popular measure of global self-esteem-the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale-as an outcome measure was examined in this population.

Methods: A total of 143 participants enrolled in a study of vocational rehabilitation were assessed at baseline and six, 12, and 18 months later using measures of self-esteem, symptoms, life satisfaction, work status, housing status, and total income.

Results: Scores on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale did not vary with work status or other functional outcomes but instead were strongly related to measures of life satisfaction and affective symptoms.

Conclusions: The hypothesis that working leads to improved self-esteem for people with severe mental illness was not supported. For this population, self-esteem, as measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, appears to be a relatively stable trait that reflects general life satisfaction and affective symptoms rather than objective functional status.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Mental Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Middle Aged
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Quality of Life*
  • Rehabilitation, Vocational* / methods
  • Self Concept*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Statistics, Nonparametric