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Self-Esteem Foundations Questionnaire3

Self-Esteem Foundations Questionnaire Test

Understand what shapes a teen’s self esteem in just 3 minutes. This 16 item check pinpoints real strengths versus compensation so you can target support at home or school.

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Questions: 163 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

19,816 views

2,067 completions

1,663 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

3/5

Compensatory (C)

Measures how much self-esteem is supported by showing or exaggerating achievements to others rather than by genuine competence.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 1.6: Low | 1.6 – 3.6: Moderate | 3.6 – 5: High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not dominant tendency to rely on pseudo-achievements to maintain self-esteem.

example score

3/5

Parental Approval (PA)

Measures how strongly a teenager’s self-worth depends on receiving positive feedback and approval from parents.

Low reliance

Moderate reliance

High reliance

1 – 2.2: Low reliance | 2.3 – 4.2: Moderate reliance | 4.3 – 5: High reliance

A score of 3 indicates a moderate reliance on parental approval, meaning parents’ opinions matter but are not the sole basis of self-esteem.

example score

4/5

Teachers' Approval (TA)

Measures how strongly a teenager’s self-worth depends on receiving positive approval from teachers.

Low reliance

Moderate reliance

High reliance

1 – 2.3: Low reliance | 2.4 – 4.2: Moderate reliance | 4.3 – 5: High reliance

A score of 4 indicates moderate reliance on teachers’ approval, meaning teacher feedback noticeably influences self-esteem but is not its sole foundation.

example score

3/5

Competence (C)

Measures how much self-respect is grounded in perceived competence and real achievements built through effort and skill.

Low competence-based self-esteem

Moderate competence-based self-esteem

High competence-based self-esteem

1 – 3: Low competence-based self-esteem | 3.1 – 4.7: Moderate competence-based self-esteem | 4.8 – 5: High competence-based self-esteem

A score of 3 suggests this foundation is currently on the low end, meaning confidence may be less consistently supported by felt competence and concrete successes.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Teens seeking confidence

44%OF USERS

Teenagers who want to understand what their self-esteem depends on and why it feels stable some days and shaky on others.

Parents of teens

33%OF USERS

Parents trying to see which supports their child relies on and where more encouragement, structure, or connection with adults may help.

School psychologists and teachers

23%OF USERS

Educators using a quick check to spot whether a student’s self-esteem is built on competence and constructive approval or on compensating for difficulties.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

compensatory (c)

Average

3.6

Normal range

2.9 — 4.3

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

parental approval (pa)

Average

Normal range

2.3 — 3.8

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

approval of teachers (aot)

Average

2.7

Normal range

2 — 3.4

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

competencies (c)

Average

3.7

Normal range

3.2 — 4.3

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

Below are statements about the sources of self-respect. The first statement refers primarily to self-respect derived through other people; the second refers to self-respect derived from oneself. Please read each statement carefully. Then indicate the extent to which you agree.

- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree

These are 3 of the 16 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Self-Esteem Foundations Questionnaire, SEFQ Test

Self-Esteem Foundations Questionnaire Test - Symptoms and Signs

self-respect

This measure assesses perceived foundations of self-worth in adolescents using the Self-Esteem Foundations Questionnaire. It is intended to help clarify which sources of self-esteem an individual relies on and to support clinically informed case conceptualization.

The instrument includes 16 items and typically requires about 3 minutes to complete. Content is commonly described in terms of multiple self-esteem bases, including more adaptive sources (e.g., competence and constructive approval from adults) as well as a compensatory basis reflecting attempts to offset perceived deficits. In practice, results from the Self-Esteem Foundations Questionnaire may be used to guide discussion and identify targets for intervention (e.g., strengthening skill-based self-efficacy, improving supportive adult relationships, and addressing compensatory coping). Authors: M. Rosenberg; S. Coopersmith.

Author: M. Rosenberg, S. Coopersmith

Literature: Harter, S. The construction of the self: Developmental and sociocultural foundations. Guilford Press. 2012.