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Psychological Types of Relatives' Reactions to a Loved One's Illness3

Psychological Types of Relatives' Reactions to a Loved One's Illness Test

In 5 minutes, see how family members emotionally respond when a loved one is seriously ill. With 25 items, it pinpoints key coping styles to guide support and ease tension.

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Questions: 255 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

28,036 views

3,177 completions

2,655 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

54/100

Detachment (D)

Measures the degree to which a relative responds to a loved one’s illness with emotional distance and largely formal, low-involvement support.

Engaged

Somewhat detached

Strongly detached

0 – 43: Engaged | 44 – 63: Somewhat detached | 64 – 100: Strongly detached

A score of 54 falls in the “Somewhat detached” range, suggesting intermittent emotional distancing and a tendency toward more formal or limited involvement in support.

example score

51/100

Harmonious Reaction (HR)

Measures the degree to which a relative maintains a balanced, realistic, and constructive response to a loved one’s illness while combining care with self-care.

Low harmony

Moderate harmony

High harmony

0 – 43: Low harmony | 44 – 63: Moderate harmony | 64 – 100: High harmony

A score of 51 indicates a moderately harmonious reaction, suggesting generally balanced support and realistic appraisal with occasional strain or inconsistency under stress.

example score

80/100

Emotional Reaction (ER)

Measures the intensity of anxiety, worry, uncertainty, guilt, and related emotional strain in response to a loved one’s illness.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 43: Low | 44 – 73: Moderate | 74 – 100: High

A score of 80 falls in the High range, indicating pronounced emotional tension with elevated worry and guilt that may be accompanied by irritability or fatigue.

example score

34/100

Overprotectiveness (O)

Measures the degree of excessive caregiving and self-sacrificing efforts to shield an ill loved one from difficulties, potentially limiting their independence.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 33: Low | 34 – 63: Moderate | 64 – 100: High

A score of 34 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable tendency toward increased protection and taking on extra responsibility, while not being consistently overinvolved.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Worried family caregivers

41%OF USERS

Relatives who are actively helping with treatment and daily care take it to understand their stress reactions and communicate better with the patient.

Anxious close relatives

34%OF USERS

Family members overwhelmed by fear, guilt, or uncertainty use it to name what they’re feeling and find a steadier way to support their loved one.

Counselors and psychologists

25%OF USERS

Professionals working with families in health crises use it to quickly map typical reaction styles and plan more effective guidance.

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.

Detachment (D)

Average

45.9

Normal range

33 — 58.8

min.

max.

100

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.

Harmonic Reaction (HR)

Average

66.6

Normal range

52.9 — 80.2

min.

max.

100

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 Reaction (ER)

Average

48.1

Normal range

35.8 — 60.4

min.

max.

100

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.

Overprotection (O)

Average

68.4

Normal range

53.2 — 83.7

min.

max.

100

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

Select one response option for each statement. Please note that there are no “right” or “wrong” answers, as each response is valid in relation to the respondent’s own views. Please answer as honestly and accurately as possible.

- Strongly disagree
- Partly disagree
- Partly agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Partly disagree
- Partly agree
- Strongly agree
- Completely disagree
- Partly disagree
- Partly agree
- Completely agree

These are 3 of the 25 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

Psychological Types of Relatives' Reactions to a Loved One's Illness Test - Symptoms and Signs

attitude towards illness

Family responses to serious illness can vary widely in emotional and behavioral patterns. Psychological Types of Relatives' Reactions to a Loved One's Illness is a brief self-report measure designed to characterize common reaction styles when a family member is coping with a significant health condition. It was attributed to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and Charles S. Carver.

The instrument contains 25 items and typically requires about 5 minutes to complete. Respondents rate feelings and behaviors related to the loved one’s illness; results are intended to support clinical formulation by highlighting predominant coping tendencies (e.g., caregiving orientation, anxiety or fear, distancing, or heightened control) and their potential impact on family communication and support.

In applied settings, Psychological Types of Relatives' Reactions to a Loved One's Illness may be used to guide discussion, identify areas for targeted psychoeducation or counseling, and inform treatment planning aimed at reducing caregiver strain and improving relational functioning during medical stressors. Interpretation should be integrated with clinical interview data and contextual factors such as illness severity, family roles, and current supports.

Author: Charles S. Carver, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Literature: Rolland, J. S. Families, illness, and disability: An integrative treatment model. Basic Books. 1987.