Proactive Coping Inventory (PCI) Test

Understand how you plan ahead, take initiative, and handle challenges in about 5 minutes. Get a fast, focused snapshot of your proactive strengths to support coaching, growth, and stress resilience.

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Questions: 275 minutes

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08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

20140 views

1236 completions

1039 likes

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

2/4

Preventive Coping (PC)

Preventive coping reflects how well a person anticipates potential difficulties and prepares in advance using past experience.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 2.3: Low | 2.31 – 3.44: Moderate | 3.45 – 4: High

A score of 2 indicates a low level of preventive coping, suggesting the person may less often anticipate and prepare for challenges based on past experience.

example score

3/4

Reflective Coping (RC)

Reflective coping measures how well a person thinks through possible actions, evaluates available resources, and anticipates likely outcomes before responding to challenges.

Limited reflection

Developing reflection

Strong reflection

1 – 2.4: Limited reflection | 2.41 – 3.58: Developing reflection | 3.59 – 4: Strong reflection

A score of 3 indicates a developing level of reflective coping, suggesting you often consider options and likely outcomes, though this process may be inconsistent across situations.

example score

2/4

Strategic Planning (SP)

Strategic Planning measures how well a person plans future actions by breaking goals into distinct, manageable tasks.

Limited planning

Developing planning

Strong planning

1 – 1.87: Limited planning | 1.88 – 3.35: Developing planning | 3.36 – 4: Strong planning

A score of 2 indicates a developing ability to plan ahead with some task differentiation, though planning may be inconsistent or not fully detailed.

example score

3/4

Proactive Coping (PC)

Measures the extent to which a person views challenging situations as opportunities for positive growth and takes initiative to prepare and act.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 2.48: Low | 2.49 – 3.48: Moderate | 3.49 – 4: High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a generally proactive stance toward challenges with room to strengthen consistent forward planning and initiative.

example score

2/4

Emotional Support Seeking (ESS)

Measures how much a person regulates and stabilizes their emotional state by seeking comfort and understanding through communication with others.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 1.94: Low | 1.95 – 3.4: Moderate | 3.41 – 4: High

A score of 2 indicates a moderate tendency to seek emotional support, using others sometimes to help manage emotions but not relying on it consistently.

example score

2/4

Instrumental Support Seeking (ISS)

Measures how much a person seeks practical information, advice, or resources from others to handle difficult situations.

Low seeking

Moderate seeking

High seeking

1 – 2.04: Low seeking | 2.05 – 3.34: Moderate seeking | 3.35 – 4: High seeking

A score of 2 falls in the Low seeking range, suggesting the respondent tends to rely more on their own approach than actively looking to others for instrumental guidance when facing challenges.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Self-improvement goal setters

41%OF USERS

People who want to take more initiative, plan ahead, and build habits that make them feel in control of their life.

Coaching and training clients

34%OF USERS

Individuals in coaching or personal development programs who need a quick snapshot of how proactively they pursue goals and handle obstacles.

Stress and life transitions

25%OF USERS

People facing a demanding period (new job, burnout risk, relationship changes) who want to shift from reacting to problems to preventing them.

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

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

What You’ll See After You Finish the Test

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale, translated into plain, usable insights. Not just numbers, but what they actually mean for your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

A structured, clinically grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation — without alarmist language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how you compare to others. Your scores are placed in a statistical context, showing percentiles and trends based on anonymized platform data to help you understand what`s typical.

Practical
Recommendations

Actionable guidance tailored to your profile. Receive clear, realistic suggestions you can apply immediately — focused on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Detected
Insights

Key patterns you might not notice on your own. Surfacing subtle connections in your responses that help you better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Psychologist

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

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you finish the test, your results will be compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of the benchmarks we use to place your score in context.

Preventive Coping (PC)

Average

2.3

Normal range

1.7 — 2.8

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Reflective coping (Rc)

Average

3.2

Normal range

2.6 — 3.7

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Strategic Planning (SP)

Average

2.6

Normal range

2.1 — 3.2

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Proactive Coping (PC)

Average

3.1

Normal range

2.7 — 3.6

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Seeking emotional support (Ses)

Average

1.9

Normal range

1.5 — 2.3

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Searching for instrumental support (Sfis)

Average

2.9

Normal range

2.4 — 3.3

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Any questions left?

What does this questionnaire measure?

It assesses proactive coping behavior, including planning ahead, taking initiative, and goal-directed action. It focuses on how individuals create conditions for success rather than only responding to stress.

How long does it take to complete and how many items are included?

Completion typically takes about 5 minutes. It includes 27 items.

How should items be answered?

Select the response option that best reflects typical behavior, not an ideal or expected response. Answer each item based on how things are most of the time.

Is there a right or wrong answer?

No; items describe preferences and habits rather than correct knowledge. Accurate results depend on straightforward responding.

How are results typically used?

Scores can support screening and discussion of strengths and targets for developing proactive planning and action. They should be interpreted alongside other information rather than used as a standalone decision tool.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Proactive Coping Inventory (PCI) Test

proactivity coping behavior

This measure assesses proactive coping as a self-regulatory style, emphasizing anticipatory planning, goal-directed action, and resource management in the face of potential stressors. The Proactive Coping Inventory (PCI) is a brief self-report questionnaire intended to characterize how individuals prepare for and respond to life challenges.

Developed by Erica S. Greenglass, it includes 27 items and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. Results are commonly used to inform clinical case conceptualization or research by describing an individual’s tendency to take initiative, plan ahead, and engage in purposeful coping strategies. Interpretation of the Proactive Coping Inventory (PCI) should be integrated with other clinical information and not used as a stand-alone diagnostic indicator.

Author: Erica S. Greenglass, ralf-schwarzer, stevan-e-hobfoll

Literature: Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer. 1984.; Aspinwall, L. G., & Taylor, S. E. A stitch in time: Self-regulation and proactive coping. Psychological Bulletin. 1997.; Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F., & Weintraub, J. K. Assessing coping strategies: A theoretically based approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1989.; Greenglass, E., Schwarzer, R., Jakubiec, D., Fiksenbaum, L., & Taubert, S. The proactive coping inventory (PCI): A multidimensional research instrument. Paper presented at the 20th International Conference of the Stress and Anxiety Research Society (STAR). 1999.

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