Practice Question
A client has been experiencing high levels of work-related stress. Which of the following behaviors is an example of a maladaptive coping strategy?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Consuming excessive alcohol to relax after work.
Rationale:
✴ Using excessive alcohol to cope with stress is a maladaptive strategy because it offers only temporary relief while creating significant health and dependency risks.
✴ This behavior can lead to tolerance, withdrawal, liver damage, accidents, and substance use disorder.
✴ Alcohol use interferes with healthy emotional processing and prevents development of effective coping skills.
✴ Over time, stress may actually worsen as the client faces additional medical, legal, and relationship problems related to alcohol.
✴ Therefore, this behavior clearly represents maladaptive coping rather than a healthy stress management technique.
Seeking support from a therapist
✴ Seeking help from a therapist is an example of adaptive coping, as it allows the client to process emotions and develop healthy strategies.
✴ Therapy promotes insight into stressors, thought patterns, and behaviors, leading to more effective long-term management.
✴ This approach reduces the risk of harmful coping methods, such as substance misuse or self-harm.
✴ It also supports improved functioning at work and in relationships.
✴ Because it is constructive and protective, this behavior is not maladaptive and is therefore incorrect for this question.
Journaling every day
✴ Daily journaling is a healthy coping technique that allows the client to reflect on feelings, identify patterns, and externalize stress.
✴ Writing about stressors can decrease rumination and improve emotional clarity.
✴ It is a low-risk, accessible strategy that supports self-awareness and problem-solving.
✴ Journaling can also help track triggers and progress as the client learns better coping skills.
✴ Thus, this behavior is adaptive, not maladaptive, and is incorrect for identifying harmful coping.
Engaging in regular physical exercise.
✴ Regular physical exercise is one of the most evidence-based healthy coping strategies for stress reduction.
✴ Exercise improves mood, reduces anxiety, and promotes better sleep through positive physiologic effects (e.g., endorphin release).
✴ It also enhances overall physical health, which indirectly improves resilience to stress.
✴ This behavior helps the client manage stress in a constructive, sustainable way.
✴ Therefore, it is an adaptive coping strategy and incorrect in the context of maladaptive behaviors.
Want to practice more questions like this?
This question is from LPN Mental Health NSG 2320 Exam which contains 45 questions.
More Questions from This Exam
A client experiencing high levels of stress is interested in complementary and alternative therapies to help achieve a calming effect. Which of the following therapies involving the use of essential oils should the nurse recommend?
Answer Choices:
A nurse is caring for a client taking lithium for bipolar disorder. The client reports nausea, muscle weakness, and hand tremors. The nurse reviews the client laboratory results and notes a lithium level of 2.0 mEq/L. Which of the following is the nurse's priority action?
Answer Choices:
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which of the following statements made by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
Answer Choices:
A client with bipolar disorder is experiencing mania and has been very active and displaying high energy levels. Which of the following interventions should the nurse prioritize while caring for this client?
Answer Choices:
A client with a history of alcohol use disorder is prescribed disulfiram. During a follow-up visit, the client reports experiencing nausea and heart palpitate .Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement first?
Answer Choices:
Question Details
- Category: LPN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: 💎Examplify-PN
- Domain: 🤦🏼♀️ Mental Health-PN
- Answer Choices: 4