Self-esteem and Rogers' core conditions in close friends: A latent variable pathanalysis of panel data

Abstract

A LISREL or path analysis with latent variables was used to test the Rogerian-derived hypothesis that self-esteem is determined by the degree to which a person has a current close friend who is seen to be unconditionally accepting, empathic, and congruent. The revised Barrett-Lennard (1964) Relationship Inventory and Rosenberg (1965) Self-Esteem Scale were completed by 38 female and 28 male students on two occasions 15 weeks apart. The hypothesis was conjimzed for unconditionality of acceptance (which was positive) and the core conditions combined. In addition, the temporal relationships between the core conditions were analysed. Level of acceptance was reciprocally related to both empathy and congruence, while prior congruence had a negative but nonsignajicant association with unconditionality of acceptance.