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Illness Locus of Control Questionnaire3

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

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

13,024 views

1,024 completions

887 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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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

This questionnaire contains statements reflecting some common beliefs about illness. What is your personal opinion regarding these statements? Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement using the response scale provided.

- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Completely disagree
- Disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Agree
- Completely agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Rather disagree
- Rather agree
- Agree
- Strongly agree

These are 3 of the 18 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

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.