Contingencies of self-worth moderate the effect of specific self-esteem on self-liking or self-competence

• Liuna Geng

  Nanjing University

• Tao Jiang

  Nanjing University

In this study we examined whether or not contingencies of self-worth (CSW) moderated the effect of specific self-esteem on self-liking or self-competence. Chinese university students (N = 210) completed the Chinese version of the Contingencies of Self-worth Scale (Crocker, Luhtanen, Cooper, & Bouvrette, 2003; translated into Chinese by Cheng & Kwan, 2008), the Chinese version of the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965; translated into Chinese by Wang, Wang, & Ma, 1999), and our own adaptation for this study of the Self-attribution Questionnaire (Pelham & Swann, 1989) to assess self-liking, self-competence, global self-esteem, 6 domains of CSW consisting of others’ approval, appearance, academic competence, competition, family support, and virtue, and specific self-esteem in these same 6 domains. Results showed that CSW did not have a moderating effect on the relationship between specific self-esteem and global self-esteem in the 6 domains. However, when we classified self-esteem into 2 distinct categories of self-liking and self-competence, we found that there were moderator effects of CSW between specific self-esteem and either self-liking or self-competence in 3 of the 6 domains. The different moderator effects in the 6 domains are discussed.

1. Liuna Geng, Nanjing University
   Department of Psychology, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
2. Tao Jiang, Nanjing University
   Department of Psychology, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

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