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AIMS To explore decision control preferences and decisional conflicts and to analyze their association among the surrogate decision-makers in the intensive care unit. DESIGN The study carried out a cross-sectional survey among the surrogates. METHODS Participants were 115 surrogate decision-makers of critical patients, from August to September 2019. A Chi square test and logistic regression were used to assess decision control preferences and decisional conflicts, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was employed to examine their association. RESULTS Of 115 surrogate decision-makers, 51.3% preferred a collaborative role, and 63.48% were somewhat unsure about making decisions. Logistic regression analysis identified decision control preferences was associated with surrogates' age, education level, and personality traits, while decisional conflicts was associated with surrogates' age, education level, character, medical expense burden, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation-II score. Cohen's kappa statistics showed a bad concordance of decision-making expectations and actuality, with kappa values of 0.158 (p<0.05). Wherein surrogates who experienced discordance between their preferred and actual roles, have relatively higher decisional conflicts. CONCLUSION This study identified individual differences of surrogate decision-makers in decision control preferences and decisional conflicts. These results imply that incorporation of the individual decision preferences and communication styles into care plans is an important first step to develop high quality decision support. IMPACT This research is a contribution to the limited study on decision control preferences and decisional conflicts among surrogate decision-makers of critically ill patients. Moreover, based on the investigation of understanding the status and related factors of decision preferences and decisional conflicts set the stage for developing effective decision support interventions.