Academically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Schulz, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology.
Fear of Cockroaches Test
Fear of cockroaches, or katsaridaphobia, is an intense dread of cockroaches. Many people are afraid of cockroaches but some people are so afraid of them that their symptoms may include nausea, trembling, panic, and/or shortness of breath.
This assessment will determine how afraid you are of cockroaches, based on a scientific questionnaire authored by Jeff Szymanski and William O' Donohue.
Are you afraid of cockroaches? For each of the following statements, indicate your level of agreement below.
Question 1 of 18
If I saw a cockroach now, I would think it will try to jump on me.
| Disagree | Agree |
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The IDRlabs Fear of Cockroaches Test was developed by IDRlabs International. It is based on the scientific questionnaire authored by Jeff Szymanski and William O'Donohue but is not associated with these researchers or their institutions.
Some examples of cockroach-related feedback include: Moderate fear of cockroaches: An excessive physical and emotional fear-response to cockroaches is considered a mental health condition known as katsaridaphobia. Like many others, you have mild katsaridaphobic traits not severe or intrusive enough to be considered truly pathological—your fear of cockroaches only manifests itself on occasion and rarely has any significant effect on your life or well-being.
When you are exposed to a cockroach, you may experience moderate nervous system arousals such as rapid breathing, shakiness, and an elevated pulse. However, you are typically able to manage these symptoms and stay reasonably calm despite your unease. You may still seek to avoid or leave the situation where the cockroach exposure is occurring. Although being faced with cockroaches (or having thoughts of them) is an uncomfortable experience for you, it does not dramatically impact your daily life. You are able to participate and engage in activities outside your home without feeling unsafe or overly anxious about encountering a cockroach.
If you would still like to work on your cockroach anxiety, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Therapy, and relaxation techniques have all shown great benefits for the improvement of katsaridaphobia symptoms.
No fear of cockroaches: An excessive physical and emotional fear-response to cockroaches is classified as an anxiety disorder—a specific phobia called katsaridaphobia. If you encounter a cockroach, you are unlikely to feel any noticeable signs of anxiety or nervous system arousal. You are also unlikely to display a significant emotional response such as panic or worry. Since you do not experience any katsaridaphobic symptoms, you are capable of observing cockroaches without notable discomfort and can even move or handle them if required.
Though you might not be especially fond of cockroaches or look forward to encountering them, you find it hard to relate to the disproportionate fear they can evoke in some people. In the absence of katsaridaphobic symptoms, you are free to explore a wide range of environments, even those where cockroaches may frequent. You do not limit your life experiences to only those that you can be completely sure pose no risk of the sight, sound, or thought of cockroaches. As researchers have proved that many specific phobias are learned from observing those closest to us, it is unlikely that any of your immediate family members suffer from a severe fear of cockroaches.
As the developers and publishers of this Fear of Cockroaches Test, we have striven to make sure the quiz is as complete and accurate as possible by subjecting it to statistical controls and validation. Before taking our free online assessment, please remember that the test is provided “as-is” for entertainment purposes and should not be misconstrued as providing professional advice or recommendations of any kind. If you would like additional information about the present test or any of our other online tests, please refer to our Terms of Service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this test measure?
It measures the level of fear or discomfort you feel around cockroaches.
What does a Moderate fear result mean?
It means you sometimes feel uneasy or have mild physical reactions when you see cockroaches, but the fear does not seriously disrupt your daily life.
What does a No fear result mean?
It means you do not experience noticeable anxiety or physical symptoms when you encounter a cockroach.
How should I interpret my score?
Treat it as a summary of the fear and discomfort you reported, not a diagnosis. Consider whether those reactions lead you to avoid everyday activities or interfere with your life.
Can this test diagnose a cockroach phobia?
No. A questionnaire score alone cannot establish whether you have a phobia. If fear of cockroaches causes significant distress or disrupts daily life, a qualified mental health professional can assess your concerns.
Why Use This Test?
1. Free. This Fear of Cockroaches Test is available to you at no charge and will allow you to obtain your scores as they relate to the severity of your fear of cockroaches.
2. Based on real psychometric items. Unlike other fear of cockroaches tests and quizzes that are readily available online, the present test was constructed using genuine psychometric items and was influenced by classic personality theories.
3. Statistical controls. Scores for the present test are entered into an anonymized database. Statistical analysis of the quiz is conducted to ensure maximum validity and accuracy of the test scores.
4. Made by professionals. The current test has been made using the recommendations of people who work professionally with psychological research and psychometrics.