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Interpersonal Dependency Inventory (IDI)3

Interpersonal Dependency Inventory (IDI) Test

Understand how dependency shows up in close relationships in about 7 minutes. With 48 items, it pinpoints key patterns like approval needs and fear of loss to guide more targeted support.

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Questions: 487 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

28,151 view

3,302 completions

2,776 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

21/56

Need for Autonomy (NfA)

Measures self-sufficiency, emotional distancing from others, and the drive for independence and personal autonomy in close relationships.

Lower autonomy

Moderate autonomy

Higher autonomy

14 – 22: Lower autonomy | 23 – 34: Moderate autonomy | 35 – 56: Higher autonomy

A score of 21 falls in the Lower autonomy range, suggesting a relatively weaker tendency to maintain independence and self-sufficiency within relationships.

example score

31/64

Self-Doubt (SD)

Measures the degree of insecurity in one’s own opinions, preference for a follower role, and difficulty making independent decisions in close relationships.

Low

Moderate

High

16 – 24: Low | 25 – 38: Moderate | 39 – 64: High

A score of 31 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme tendency toward self-doubt and relying on others when making decisions.

example score

57/72

Emotional Reliance on Others (ERoO)

Measures the extent to which a person seeks care, protection, advice, and external approval from others.

Low need for support

Moderate need for support

High need for support

18 – 37: Low need for support | 38 – 55: Moderate need for support | 56 – 72: High need for support

A score of 57 falls in the High need for support range, suggesting a stronger tendency to rely on others for reassurance, guidance, and evaluation.

example score

79/122

Dependency (D)

Measures the overall tendency to rely on others for emotional support, approval, and guidance in close relationships.

Low dependency

Moderate dependency

High dependency

-22 – 34: Low dependency | 35 – 63: Moderate dependency | 64 – 122: High dependency

A score of 79 falls in the High dependency range, suggesting a stronger-than-average tendency to seek support and approval from others and to rely on close relationships for emotional stability.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

People in rocky relationships

41%OF USERS

They take it to understand whether fear of losing a partner, constant reassurance-seeking, or self-sacrifice is driving their relationship patterns.

Clients in individual therapy

34%OF USERS

They use it to quickly map how much their self-worth and decisions depend on a partner or close others and what to work on in sessions.

Adults with family tension

25%OF USERS

They take it to see how much parental approval, guilt, or over-involvement influences their autonomy and adult relationships.

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.

Striving for autonomy (Sfa)

Average

28.2

Normal range

21.5 — 34.8

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.

Lack of self-confidence (Los)

Average

45.8

Normal range

37.7 — 53.9

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.

Emotional Support from Others (ESfO)

Average

41.9

Normal range

32.6 — 51.3

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.

Addiction (A)

Average

59.5

Normal range

38.4 — 80.5

min.

-22

max.

122

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

- Not characteristic of me
- Somewhat characteristic of me
- Quite characteristic of me
- Very characteristic of me
- Not characteristic of me
- Somewhat characteristic of me
- Quite characteristic of me
- Very characteristic of me
- Not characteristic of me
- Somewhat characteristic of me
- Quite characteristic of me
- Very characteristic of me

These are 3 of the 48 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

Interpersonal Dependency Inventory (IDI) Test - Symptoms and Signs

addiction

autonomy

close relationships

love addiction

This self-report measure is designed to assess patterns of interpersonal reliance in close relationships. The Interpersonal Dependency Inventory (IDI) provides a brief screening of dependency-related attitudes and behaviors that may be clinically relevant in case conceptualization.

The instrument includes 48 items and typically takes about 7 minutes to complete. Item content generally reflects needs for reassurance and approval, concerns about separation or abandonment, and tendencies toward submissiveness or reduced autonomy in relational contexts. It was developed by Robert F. Bornstein.

Scores from the Interpersonal Dependency Inventory (IDI) can be used to inform clinical discussion of relationship functioning and to identify areas for further assessment, particularly when dependency traits may affect coping, boundaries, or treatment engagement. Results should be interpreted within the broader clinical picture and are not diagnostic on their own.

Author: Robert F. Bornstein

Literature: Bornstein, R. F. The dependent personality. Guilford Press. 1993.; Hirschfeld, R. M. A., Klerman, G. L., Gough, H. G., Barrett, J., Korchin, S. J., & Chodoff, P. A measure of interpersonal dependency. Journal of Personality Assessment. 1977.