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Comprehensive Coping Inventory (CCI-55)

Comprehensive Coping Inventory (CCI-55) Test

Understand how clients cope with stress and where coping breaks down in about 11 minutes. Get clear targets for treatment by pinpointing maladaptive patterns across a wide range of coping styles.

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Questions: 5511 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

23,564 views

1,731 completion

1,404 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

2/15

Rumination (R)

Measures the tendency toward repetitive, negative thinking about past events that can prolong distress.

Low

Elevated

-11 – 0: Low | 1 – 15: Elevated

A score of 2 falls in the Elevated range, suggesting some tendency to get stuck in repetitive negative thoughts about the past when stressed.

example score

6/15

Worry (W)

Measures the tendency toward recurring negative future-focused thoughts that can increase distress and hinder emotional recovery.

Low

Elevated

-11 – 0: Low | 1 – 15: Elevated

A score of 6 falls in the Elevated range, suggesting more frequent or intense anxious, future-oriented worrying as a coping pattern.

example score

4/15

Blaming Others (BO)

Measures the tendency to attribute personal difficulties primarily to other people’s actions or mistakes rather than one’s own role or situational factors.

Low externalization

Elevated externalization

-11 – 0: Low externalization | 1 – 15: Elevated externalization

A score of 4 falls in the Elevated externalization range, suggesting a noticeable tendency to shift responsibility for difficulties onto others, which may temporarily ease self-blame but can be linked with frustration or helplessness.

example score

6/15

Self-Blame (SB)

Measures the tendency to attribute negative events to one’s own fault, which can undermine self-esteem and self-forgiveness.

Low

Moderate

High

-11 – -1: Low | 0 – 7: Moderate | 8 – 15: High

A score of 6 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme tendency toward self-blame when unpleasant events occur.

example score

0/15

Cognitive Distortions (CD)

Measures the tendency to interpret situations through inaccurate or negatively skewed thinking patterns that can intensify emotional distress.

Low distortions

Typical range

Elevated distortions

-11 – -1: Low distortions | 0: Typical range | 1 – 15: Elevated distortions

A score of 0 falls in the typical range, suggesting cognitive distortions are not especially prominent in the person’s reported coping pattern.

example score

3/15

Cognitive Avoidance (CA)

Measures the tendency to suppress or mentally shift away from unpleasant thoughts to reduce discomfort.

Low

Moderate

High

-11 – -1: Low | 0 – 7: Moderate | 8 – 15: High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not dominant habit of mentally avoiding unpleasant thoughts.

example score

1/15

Emotional Avoidance (EA)

Measures the tendency to suppress, deny, or avoid experiencing intense emotions when under stress.

Low

Elevated

-11 – 0: Low | 1 – 15: Elevated

A score of 1 falls in the Elevated range, suggesting a noticeable tendency to avoid or suppress emotions rather than engage with them directly.

example score

7/15

Stress Intolerance (SI)

Measures how strongly a person tends to react emotionally and physically to stress and how difficult it is for them to regain control during unpleasant events.

Low

Elevated

-11 – 0: Low | 1 – 15: Elevated

A score of 7 falls in the Elevated range, suggesting stronger-than-usual stress reactivity that may make it harder to stay balanced and work through difficulties in the moment.

example score

-2/15

Emotional Behavior (EB)

Measures the tendency toward intense, automatically triggered emotional reactions to stress, especially frequent negative emotional expression that can prolong distress.

Low

Moderate

High

-11 – -1: Low | 0 – 7: Moderate | 8 – 15: High

A score of -2 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively infrequent intense negative emotional reactions when under stress.

example score

1/15

Safety Behaviors (SB)

Assesses how often a person uses anxiety-reducing protective strategies such as avoidance, checking, or reassurance seeking when under stress.

Low use

Elevated use

-11 – 0: Low use | 1 – 15: Elevated use

A score of 1 falls in the Elevated use range, suggesting protective behaviors are used somewhat more than minimal levels and may modestly contribute to discomfort with uncertainty.

example score

-4/15

Behavioral Avoidance (BA)

Measures the tendency to avoid situations or actions that might trigger unpleasant emotions such as fear, shame, or guilt.

Low avoidance

High avoidance

-11 – 0: Low avoidance | 1 – 15: High avoidance

A score of -4 falls in the Low avoidance range, suggesting relatively infrequent reliance on avoiding stress-triggering situations or actions.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Therapy Clients in Distress

41%OF USERS

People in psychotherapy who feel overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, or low mood take it to pinpoint which coping patterns are keeping them stuck.

Clinician Intake Assessments

34%OF USERS

Psychologists, psychotherapists, and counselors use it with new or ongoing clients to quickly map maladaptive coping strategies and guide treatment focus.

Progress Monitoring in Therapy

25%OF USERS

Clients and clinicians repeat it during treatment to track changes in avoidance, worry, and other coping responses over time.

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

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

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.

Rumination (R)

Average

4.3

Normal range

1 — 7.5

min.

-11

max.

Majority

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.

Anxiety (A)

Average

2.5

Normal range

-1.8 — 6.8

min.

-11

max.

Majority

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.

Shifting the blame onto others (Stboo)

Average

6.5

Normal range

3.2 — 9.8

min.

-11

max.

Majority

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.

Self-Blame (S)

Average

7.6

Normal range

3.5 — 11.8

min.

-11

max.

Majority

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.

Cognitive Biases (CB)

Average

1.8

Normal range

-2.5 — 6.2

min.

-11

max.

Majority

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.

Cognitive Avoidance (CA)

Average

Normal range

3.9 — 12.1

min.

-11

max.

Majority

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.

Emotional Avoidance (EA)

Average

4.4

Normal range

-0.3 — 9.2

min.

-11

max.

Majority

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.

Inability to Handle Stress (ItHS)

Average

2.8

Normal range

-1.4 — 7.1

min.

-11

max.

Majority

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.

Emotional Behavior (EB)

Average

-3.4

Normal range

-7.4 — 0.5

min.

-11

max.

Majority

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.

Protective Behavior (PB)

Average

7.6

Normal range

3.7 — 11.6

min.

-11

max.

Majority

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.

Behavioral avoidance (Ba)

Average

6.2

Normal range

2.4 — 10.1

min.

-11

max.

Majority

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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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures common stress-coping patterns, including maladaptive strategies that can interfere with emotional adjustment. The scales reflect transdiagnostic mechanisms seen across different mental health conditions.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is intended for adolescents and adults in clinical, counseling, or assessment settings where stress coping is relevant. It may also be used in research on coping and emotional functioning.

How is it completed and how long does it take?

It is a self-report questionnaire with 55 items rated by frequency or intensity of the described responses. Average completion time is about 11 minutes.

How should the results be used in clinical work?

Results help identify coping strategies that are overused, ineffective, or linked to current difficulties. The profile can guide treatment planning and track change across sessions.

Is there a shorter form, and when is it appropriate?

A 20-item short form is available for rapid screening or repeated monitoring. The full form is preferred when a broader and more detailed coping profile is needed.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Comprehensive Coping Inventory (CCI-55) Test - Symptoms and Signs

cbt defense mechanisms

This self-report measure is intended to characterize how an individual typically responds to stress and emotional distress. The Comprehensive Coping Inventory (CCI-55) can help identify coping patterns that may be adaptive versus those that may be associated with difficulties in adjustment.

It includes 55 items and typically takes about 11 minutes to complete. Item content samples a range of coping mechanisms (e.g., avoidance, worry, and cognitive/perceptual distortions) that may be relevant across multiple clinical presentations. Results are commonly used to support case formulation, guide treatment planning, and monitor change over time when interpreted in clinical context; the Comprehensive Coping Inventory (CCI-55) is not a standalone diagnostic instrument.

Author: richard-s-lazarus, susan-folkman

Literature: Folkman, S., & Lazarus, R. S. An analysis of coping in a middle-aged community sample. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1980.; Barlow, D. H. Anxiety and its disorders: The nature and treatment of anxiety and panic. Guilford Press. 2002.

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