Extreme/Pathological demand avoidance test is also available in the following languages:

Basic information
Statements:	24
Duration:	5–6 minutes
Type:	Self-assessment Questionnaire
Dimensions:	Resistance – Reactivity – Control – Anxiety – Social Influence – Imagination
Publishing year:	2019
Seminal paper:	O’Nions, E., Happé, F., Viding, E. et al. Extreme Demand Avoidance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (EDA-QA) [Research Paper]

advertisement

Question 1 of 24

I daydream instead of doing things.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 2 of 24

I like being around people who do the hard parts.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 3 of 24

I panic when things are too hard.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 4 of 24

I run away or hide to avoid things.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 5 of 24

I want to make the rules.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 6 of 24

I like to be the one in charge.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 7 of 24

I worry when I have to do something.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 8 of 24

I get upset if I can’t choose.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 9 of 24

I make excuses to avoid things.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 10 of 24

I pretend I don’t know what to do.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 11 of 24

I try to make others do things for me.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 12 of 24

I ignore people when they ask me to do something.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 13 of 24

I feel angry or sad if I can’t avoid something.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 14 of 24

I break rules when I don’t want to do something.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 15 of 24

I don’t like doing what people tell me.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 16 of 24

I want things my way.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 17 of 24

I get lost in my imagination when I should be working.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 18 of 24

I shout or scream when I feel forced.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 19 of 24

I pretend to be busy with something else.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 20 of 24

I act like I’m doing something important so I’m not asked.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 21 of 24

I act silly or wild to get out of tasks.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 22 of 24

I act friendly so people let me skip tasks.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 23 of 24

I think about bad things that might happen if I try.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

Question 24 of 24

I prefer doing things only if others are doing them too.

Never

Sometimes

Often

Always

 Loading...

Pathological demand avoidance self-test has been adopted from the Extreme Demand Avoidance Questionnaire’ (EDA-Q) which is the 24 item questionnaire designed to measure behaviours related to Extreme/pathological demand avoidance (PDA). EDA-Q is not designed to make a self-diagnose and this self-assessment questionnaire is NOT a diagnostic test. EDA-24 can help identify patterns of behavior that look like Pathological/Extreme Demand Avoidance traits but remember PDA traits overlap with anxiety, oppositional behavior, and autism features. ^{[1] Extreme demand avoidance in children with autism spectrum disorder: Refinement of a caregiver-report measure. O’Nions, Elizabeth, et al.}

PDA was proposed by British psychologist Elizabeth Newson in the 1980s. She found some children showing autism-like features but also showing an unusual pattern of resisting demands. The research by Newson on these autistic children with this type of syndrome gained attention from other psychologists, and the research was expanded by Francesca Happé, Essi Viding, and Liz O’Nions, who developed the EDA-Q to study demand avoidance traits. The EDA-Q is a parental questionnaire in which parents observe their children for signs of extreme demand avoidance syndrome. In modern times, a need for a self-report screening tool for EDA has been observed, so the EDA-24 was developed, and it is designed to look for EDA traits on the spectrum.

Six Dimensions of EDA

People with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) often show their difficulties through different patterns of behavior. The EDA-24 groups these into six main areas, which help us understand how and why a person avoids everyday demands.

Resistance means not wanting to do things when asked. A child may say “no,” ignore instructions, or try to get out of a task. This is not just stubbornness but often linked to feeling pressured or anxious.

Reactivity describes strong or extreme reactions when demands are placed. Instead of calmly saying no, a child may shout, run away, or become very upset. These responses happen quickly and can seem “bigger” than the situation.

Control refers to the child’s strong need to be in charge. They may want to decide what games to play, make rules for others, or refuse to follow directions unless it is their choice.

Anxiety is often at the root of demand avoidance. Children may worry, feel panicked, or become distressed when told to do something. Their avoidance is often driven more by fear than by simple defiance.

Social Influence is how children use social strategies to avoid demands. They may distract, joke, negotiate, or pretend not to hear. Sometimes, they even use role-play or pretend characters to escape pressure.

Imagination highlights how creative or pretend play can be used as an avoidance tool. A child may say, “I can’t do this because I’m a superhero today,” using imagination to delay or refuse tasks.

References

1. O’Nions, Elizabeth, et al. “Extreme demand avoidance in children with autism spectrum disorder: Refinement of a caregiver-report measure.” Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders 5.3 (2021): 269-281. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-021-00203-z ↩