Contingency as a moderator of the effect of domain self-esteem on global self-esteem

The aim in this study was to examine whether contingency of domain self-esteem moderates the effect of domain self-esteem on global self-esteem. Chinese university students (N = 320) completed the Contingencies of Self-worth Scale and the Self-worth Questionnaire (both by Yang, Hu, Pang, & Wang, 2007) and the Chinese version (Robinson, Shaver, & Wrightsman, 1997) of the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965). Results indicated that in domains that the individual could control, such as ability or behavior style, domain self-esteem directly influenced global self-esteem; in domains that the individual could not control, such as appearance and nationality, contingency of domain self-esteem moderated the effect of domain self-esteem on global self-esteem. Cultural differences in contingencies of domain self-esteem are also discussed.