Validation of the Sense of Professional Self-Esteem Scale

There are a few concepts related to the sense of being needed and valuable in the workplace. Some are based on objective criteria, such as professional suitability described mainly in terms of a specific educational and professional context (Rodriguez et al. 2016) or as the learning process influenced by competences required for proper performance at work (Myklebust, 2022).

A sense of professional self-esteem relates to the subjective feeling of being needed, successful, significant and worthy at work. The construct is similar to general self-esteem and self-worth measuring both positive and negative feelings about the self as proposed by Rosenberg (1965), but linked to a professional area.

The general self-esteem is a belief in an individual’s capabilities, which has an impact on behaviour, fulfilment of objectives and taking actions (Bandura, 1994). It also regulates well-being, informs about coping with difficulties, and supports relations with others (Leary & Baumeister, 2000).

High professional self-esteem means that employees value and accept their professional roles (Tinsley, 2002) and try to perform as well as possible (Ceylan, Biçakçi, Gürsoy, & Aral, 2009).

It consists of five dimensions such as satisfaction with the performed role, desire to develop skills necessary in a job, commitment, feeling of adapting to work conditions and a desire to share knowledge and experience with others (Arıcak, 1999).