Use of the Single-Item Self-Esteem Scale in a Juvenile Delinquent Population: A Convergent Validity Study

The validity of the Single-Item Self-Esteem Scale (SISE) in adolescents was not well established, and how self-esteem manifested in newly incarcerated juvenile delinquents was poorly described. Using a retrospective study with archival records, the SISE was compared to other measures of self-esteem, grit, mental health, and academic self-concept in a small juvenile detention center in the Midwest of the United States. Demographic data were analyzed, and a correlation, intraclass correlation, and kappa statistic were run to test relationships and reliability. The SISE was found to be a reliable and efficient tool to use with adolescents and juvenile delinquents. Policy recommendations applicable to juvenile delinquents and schools in general give direction using the findings.

The validity of the Single-Item Self-Esteem Scale (SISE) in adolescents was not well established, and how self-esteem manifested in newly incarcerated juvenile delinquents was poorly described. Using a retrospective study with archival records, the SISE was compared to other measures of self-esteem, grit, mental health, and academic self-concept in a small juvenile detention center in the Midwest of the United States. Demographic data were analyzed, and a correlation, intraclass correlation, and kappa statistic were run to test relationships and reliability. The SISE was found to be a reliable and efficient tool to use with adolescents and juvenile delinquents. Policy recommendations applicable to juvenile delinquents and schools in general give direction using the findings.