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Illness Locus of Control Questionnaire

Illness Locus of Control Questionnaire Test

In 4 minutes, see how someone views control over illness and treatment, from fatalism to autonomy. With 18 items, it quickly guides tailored support to boost engagement and outcomes.

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Questions: 184 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

10,822 views

811 completions

708 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

10/24

Self-Reliance (SR)

Measures the degree to which a person prefers to manage their illness and treatment independently, reflecting an internal locus of control in illness.

Low independence

Moderate independence

High independence

4 – 18: Low independence | 19 – 22: Moderate independence | 23 – 24: High independence

A score of 10 falls in the Low independence range, suggesting a relatively limited tendency to take a self-directed role in managing illness and treatment.

example score

16/24

Shifting Responsibility (SR)

Measures the tendency to shift responsibility for illness treatment to doctors or external factors rather than actively participating in recovery.

Low

Moderate

High

4 – 8: Low | 9 – 16: Moderate | 17 – 24: High

A score of 16 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not dominant tendency to rely on doctors or circumstances for treatment responsibility.

example score

16/24

Self-Blame (SB)

Measures the tendency to blame oneself for becoming ill, often alongside doubting one’s ability to improve the condition through personal efforts.

Low self-blame

Moderate self-blame

High self-blame

4 – 9: Low self-blame | 10 – 16: Moderate self-blame | 17 – 24: High self-blame

A score of 16 falls in the Moderate self-blame range, suggesting a noticeable tendency toward self-directed blame that may coexist with uncertainty about personal influence on recovery.

example score

14/24

Fatalism (F)

Measures the extent to which a person believes illness outcomes are predetermined by fate or external factors rather than influenced by personal actions.

Low fatalism

High fatalism

4 – 11: Low fatalism | 12 – 24: High fatalism

A score of 14 falls in the High fatalism range, suggesting a stronger tendency to view health outcomes as largely outside personal control.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Chronic illness patients

41%OF USERS

People managing long-term conditions who want to understand how their beliefs about control affect adherence and recovery.

In therapy or counseling

34%OF USERS

Clients working with a psychologist or counselor to explore responsibility, motivation, and coping patterns related to health.

Clinicians and researchers

25%OF USERS

Healthcare professionals and students who use the questionnaire to assess patient attitudes and tailor support strategies.

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.

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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.

Independence (I)

Average

13.3

Normal range

10.5 — 16.2

min.

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 responsibility (Sr)

Average

Normal range

9.4 — 16.7

min.

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

11.7

Normal range

9.1 — 14.3

min.

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.

Fatalism (F)

Average

14.6

Normal range

11.1 — 18

min.

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 assesses beliefs about control and responsibility in the context of illness and treatment. It yields scores for fatalism, shifting responsibility, self-blame, and autonomy.

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

Estimated completion time is about 4 minutes. The questionnaire contains 18 items.

Who can complete this questionnaire?

It is intended for adults who are dealing with an illness or undergoing treatment. It may also be used with individuals who have difficulty identifying their role in recovery.

How should responses be given?

Each item should be answered based on typical thoughts or reactions to illness and treatment. Responses should reflect the current situation rather than an ideal or preferred stance.

How are results used in practice or research?

Scores support understanding of motivational and responsibility patterns that may affect adherence and coping. Results can guide selection of targeted support strategies and inform research analyses.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Questionnaire on the Locus of Control in Illness Test

Illness Locus of Control Questionnaire Test - Symptoms and Signs

locus of control attitude towards illness

This self-report measure assesses beliefs about personal and external control in the context of health and illness. The Illness Locus of Control Questionnaire provides a brief profile of perceived responsibility for health outcomes, which may inform clinical case conceptualization and treatment planning.

Developed by Kenneth A. Wallston and Barbara S. Wallston, it includes 18 items and typically takes about 4 minutes to complete. Item responses are used to characterize the individual’s orientation toward internal control versus reliance on chance or powerful others, which can be relevant to engagement with medical recommendations and coping behaviors.

The Illness Locus of Control Questionnaire is intended for use as an adjunct to clinical assessment and research when understanding health-related control beliefs is clinically salient.

Author: Barbara S. Wallston, Kenneth A. Wallston

Literature: Wallston, K. A., Wallston, B. S., & DeVellis, R. Development of the multidimensional health locus of control (MHLC) scales. Health Education Monographs. 1978.

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