A situation in which a family's or individual's balance is disrupted, requiring development of new coping strategies is called?

Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

A crisis is defined as a state of psychological disequilibrium where an individual's or family's usual sense of balance is disrupted.
This state occurs when a stressful event or situation exceeds their existing resources and familiar coping mechanisms.
The core of a crisis is the failure of old coping methods, which necessitates the development of new strategies to resolve the problem and restore emotional balance.

Option B: Stagnation refers to a lack of personal growth and development, as described in Erikson's theory of psychosocial stages (Generativity vs. Stagnation). It is a long-term state, not an acute disruption of balance.
Option C: A transition is a process of change from one state to another (e.g., marriage, retirement). While a transition can be a stressful event that triggers a crisis, it is the precipitating event, not the resulting state of disequilibrium.
Option D: Strategies are the methods, actions, or plans used to manage a situation. They are the response to the crisis, not the crisis itself.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Definition and characteristics of a crisis as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses frequently encounter patients and families in crisis across all healthcare settings. Recognizing the signs of a crisis is the first step in providing effective support and intervention.
Crisis intervention is a core nursing skill aimed at providing immediate, short-term help to restore an individual's or family's equilibrium and prevent long-term psychological harm.
What if? If an individual's balance is disrupted but their existing coping strategies are sufficient to manage the situation, it is considered a stressful event, not a crisis. A crisis is specifically defined by the failure of those strategies.

How to Approach the Question

This is a definition-based recall question. The goal is to match the definition in the stem to the correct term.
First, analyze the key concepts in the question: 1) 'balance is disrupted' (implying disequilibrium) and 2) 'requiring development of new coping strategies' (implying old methods have failed).
Next, evaluate each option against these two core concepts.
The definition of 'Crisis' directly aligns with a state of disequilibrium where existing coping mechanisms are inadequate, necessitating new ones.
Consider the other options: 'Stagnation' is a developmental concept, 'Transition' is a cause, and 'Strategies' are a response. None of these fit the complete definition provided in the stem.
Conclude that 'Crisis' is the only term that encapsulates the entire situation described.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QWY2UokCMbG7znhbi8idLE

E6 Guide to Mental Health & PSYCHIATRIC NURSING R Sreevani— Part 2 (pp 290-564 of 579) p. 94-96

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 4 p. 61-63

Practise the full DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.