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Sense of Safety Questionnaire (SQ)

Sense of Safety Questionnaire (SQ) Test

In about 3 minutes, it shows how safe and in control you feel under stress and risk. Quick, clear results help spot vulnerability and build resilience plans for therapy, coaching, or teams.

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Questions: 163 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

14,923 views

1,605 completions

1,360 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

12/40

Confidence in Control (CiC)

Measures how predictable and manageable a person feels life events are and how much control they believe they have over their own actions and circumstances.

Low control confidence

High control confidence

8 – 19: Low control confidence | 20 – 40: High control confidence

A score of 12 falls in the Low control confidence range, suggesting the person currently experiences limited predictability and reduced confidence in managing situations.

example score

23/40

Interpersonal Safety (IS)

Measures how safe and confident a person feels in interpersonal interactions and relationships.

Low interpersonal safety

High interpersonal safety

8 – 24: Low interpersonal safety | 25 – 40: High interpersonal safety

A score of 23 falls in the low interpersonal safety range, suggesting some caution or tension in social situations with limited felt trust or comfort.

example score

66/80

Sense of Safety (SoS)

Measures the overall subjective sense of safety and confidence in one’s protection across different life situations.

Low safety

Moderate safety

High safety

16 – 45: Low safety | 46 – 74: Moderate safety | 75 – 80: High safety

A score of 66 indicates a moderate sense of safety, suggesting generally stable psychological comfort with some remaining sensitivity to stress in certain situations.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Anxious and stressed adults

41%OF USERS

People who often feel tense, unsafe, or overwhelmed take it to understand how strong their inner sense of control is under stress.

Therapy and coaching clients

34%OF USERS

Clients in counseling use it to quickly map their “threat vs strength” balance and choose clear targets for improving resilience and self-esteem.

High-pressure professionals

25%OF USERS

Those working in demanding roles take it to check how well they cope with risk and pressure and where they may feel vulnerable.

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.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

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.

Confidence in Control (CiC)

Average

19.9

Normal range

14.2 — 25.5

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.

Interpersonal Safety (IS)

Average

22.2

Normal range

16.6 — 27.9

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.

Sense of Safety (SoS)

Average

56.2

Normal range

48.1 — 64.3

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.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures perceived safety in potentially stressful situations. It covers perceived threat and perceived strength to cope and maintain control.

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

It takes about 3 minutes to complete. It includes 16 statements.

How should the statements be rated?

Rate each statement based on how well it describes current typical feelings and reactions. Use the full range of response options provided.

How are results interpreted?

Higher perceived threat indicates greater concern about harm to body or mind, while higher perceived strength indicates greater confidence in coping. The pattern across both areas can indicate available coping resources or areas of vulnerability.

In what settings can results be used?

Results can support screening and case formulation in mental health, coaching, and organizational settings. They can guide focus areas for work on stress, anxiety, and resilience.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Sense of Safety Questionnaire (SQ) Test - Symptoms and Signs

security

This self-report measure assesses an individual’s perceived safety and capacity to cope in potentially stressful or threatening situations. The Sense of Safety Questionnaire (SQ) is intended to capture subjective appraisals related to perceived threat and perceived strength or control.

The instrument consists of 16 items and typically requires about 3 minutes to complete. Items are rated by the respondent and can be used to support clinical formulation of stress- and anxiety-related concerns and to monitor perceived safety over time. David H. Barlow is referenced as the author.

In practice, the Sense of Safety Questionnaire (SQ) may be used as a brief screening tool alongside interview data and other measures; results should be interpreted in context and are not, by themselves, diagnostic.

Author: David H. Barlow, edna-b-foa

Literature: Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. Attachment in adulthood: Structure, dynamics, and change. Guilford Press. 2016.; Cong, Z., & An, L. Developing of security questionnaire and its reliability and validity. Chinese Mental Health Journal. 2004.

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