Secondary Gain from Illness Test - the question form
Questions: 40 · 8 minutes
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1. A person who is ill can allow themselves to be angry, irritable, or offended.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – More likely no than yes
3 – Hard to say
4 – More likely yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
2. Feels anxious and distressed, with fears of being alone and of being unwanted or useless.
1 – No, strongly disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, strongly agree
3. Acts according to the motto “I must” in order to meet others’ expectations and gain approval.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
4. Often becomes ill again and again.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
5. May show selfishness or stinginess.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Hard to say
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
6. I tend to feel dissatisfied with myself.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
7. Tries to be a good person.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather disagree than agree
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather agree than disagree
5 – Yes, completely agree
8. Experiences paradoxical feelings, such as: "If it hurts, it means I'm alive."
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Hard to say
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
9. Believes that illness can be used as an excuse for laziness and helplessness.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
10. I tend to think of myself as important or special.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – More no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – More yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
11. Avoids aggression, conflict, and quarrels.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Probably not, rather than yes
3 – Hard to say
4 – Probably yes, rather than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
12. Has an opportunity to take revenge so that justice is done.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – More no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – More yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
13. May feel unnoticed or useless.
1 - No, completely disagree
2 - Rather no than yes
3 - Not sure
4 - Rather yes than no
5 - Yes, completely agree
14. Thinks that other people, those in power, or God are unfair to them.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
15. Avoids responsibility.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – More likely no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – More likely yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
16. He feels overwhelmed by guilt.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
17. I tend to feel dissatisfied with other people.
1 – No, strongly disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, strongly agree
18. Avoids unwanted consequences of their own thoughtless actions.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
19. A person who is ill seems to be saying: “Look what you’ve done to me.”
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Probably no rather than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – Probably yes rather than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
20. Ignores their illness.
1 – No, strongly disagree
2 – More likely no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – More likely yes than no
5 – Yes, strongly agree
21. A person who is recovering: Seeks new ways to solve problems.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
22. Agrees that people who used to take care of him no longer do so.
1 – No, strongly disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Difficult to say
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, strongly agree
23. He needs to find a balance between enthusiasm and his own efforts.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
24. He is no longer bothered by minor hurts or past mistakes.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
25. Takes responsibility for their thoughts, feelings, and behavior
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – More no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – More yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
26. Stops associating with “friends” who do not accept them when they are healthy.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – More likely no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – More likely yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
27. Takes responsibility and does not make excuses or use manipulation.
1 - No, completely disagree
2 - More no than yes
3 - Not sure
4 - More yes than no
5 - Yes, completely agree
28. Asks for help and values sympathy.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
29. Acknowledges their fears and keeps moving forward.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
30. Gives up their special status as a "sick person" at work, at home, and among friends.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
31. Gives up personal irresponsibility, selfishness, “special needs,” and laziness.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – More likely no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – More likely yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
32. Gives up previous coping strategies for dealing with difficulties.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
33. Gives up excessive control or overprotectiveness.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
34. Loses a stable source of suffering.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
35. Learns to cope constructively with fears, anxiety, and sadness.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
36. Rejects negative attention and accepts life’s challenges.
1 – No, strongly disagree
2 – More no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – More yes than no
5 – Yes, strongly agree
37. Develops psychological resilience.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Unsure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
38. It changes attitudes toward health and success.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
39. Lets go of unrealistic or irrational ideas or beliefs.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather disagree than agree
3 – Unsure
4 – Rather agree than disagree
5 – Yes, completely agree
40. Does not blame themselves for a prolonged recovery.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – More no than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – More yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
1. A person who is ill can allow themselves to be angry, act capriciously, or feel offended.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Probably not
3 – Not sure
4 – Probably yes
5 – Yes, completely agree
2. Feels anxious and distressed, with fears of being alone and of being unwanted or useless.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – No, rather than yes
3 – Difficult to say
4 – Yes, rather than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
3. I act according to the motto “I must” in order to meet others’ expectations and gain approval.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
4. Often becomes ill again and again.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Probably no rather than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – Probably yes rather than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
5. May show selfishness or stinginess.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
6. Tend to feel dissatisfied with myself.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – More no than yes
3 – Unsure
4 – More yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
7. Tries to be a good person.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
8. Experiences paradoxical feelings, such as “if it hurts, it means I am alive.”
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
9. Believes that illness can be used to justify laziness and helplessness.
1 – No, strongly disagree
2 – Disagree rather than agree
3 – Not sure
4 – Agree rather than disagree
5 – Yes, strongly agree
10. I tend to think of myself as important or special.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – More no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – More yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
11. Avoids aggression, conflicts, and arguments.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
12. Gets an opportunity to take revenge so that justice is served.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
13. May feel unnoticed or useless.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Hard to say
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
14. Believes that other people, the authorities, the world, or God are unfair to him.
1 – No, strongly disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, strongly agree
15. Avoids responsibility.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
16. He feels overwhelmed by guilt.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
17. I tend to feel dissatisfied with other people.
1 – No, strongly disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, strongly agree
18. Avoids unwanted consequences of his or her own thoughtless actions.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
19. The ill person seems to be saying, “Look what you have done to me.”
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – No, rather not than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – Yes, rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
20. Ignores their illness.
1 – No, I completely disagree
2 – No, rather than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Yes, rather than no
5 – Yes, I completely agree
21. A person who is recovering: Looks for new ways to solve problems.
1 – No, strongly disagree
2 – More no than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – More yes than no
5 – Yes, strongly agree
22. Agrees that people who used to care for him stop doing so.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – More no than yes
3 – Difficult to say
4 – More yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
23. He needs to find a balance between enthusiasm and his own efforts.
1 – No, I completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – I am not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, I completely agree
24. He is no longer bothered by minor grievances or past mistakes.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – No, rather disagree
3 – Not sure
4 – Yes, rather agree
5 – Yes, completely agree
25. Takes responsibility for their thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
26. Stops seeing “friends” who do not accept them when they are healthy.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – No, rather than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – Yes, rather than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
27. Takes responsibility and avoids excuses and manipulation.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
28. Asks for help and values sympathy.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
29. Acknowledges their fears and moves forward.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – More no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – More yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
30. Gives up their special status as a "sick" person at work, at home, and among friends.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
31. Gives up their own irresponsibility, selfishness, “special needs,” and laziness.
1 – No, strongly disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, strongly agree
32. Gives up previous coping strategies.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Probably not rather than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – Probably yes rather than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
33. Gives up excessive control or overprotectiveness.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Unsure
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
34. Loses a stable source of suffering.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – More likely no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – More likely yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
35. Learns to cope constructively with fear, anxiety, and sadness.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – More likely no than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – More likely yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
36. Refuses negative attention and accepts life’s challenges.
1 – No, strongly disagree
2 – Rather disagree than agree
3 – Not sure
4 – Rather agree than disagree
5 – Yes, strongly agree
37. Develops psychological resilience.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
38. Changes their attitude toward health and success.
1 – No, strongly disagree
2 – No, rather than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – Yes, rather than no
5 – Yes, strongly agree
39. Lets go of unrealistic or irrational ideas or beliefs.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – More likely no than yes
3 – Not sure
4 – More likely yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree
40. Does not blame themselves for a prolonged recovery.
1 – No, completely disagree
2 – Rather no than yes
3 – Difficult to answer
4 – Rather yes than no
5 – Yes, completely agree