The hospitalized client states concern about discharge timing and worry about missing work. This illustrates which stress concept?

• A. This is an example of eustress and no intervention is necessary.
• B. This is an example of distress and could affect the client's health status.
• C. This is an example of developmental stress and the client should talk to someone his own age.
• D. This is an example of psychological stress and the client should be placed on antidepressants.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is recognizing a negative stress response that can affect health. When the hospitalized client worries about discharge timing and missing work, that concern is distress—an uncomfortable, maladaptive reaction to a threat to well-being. Distress can disrupt sleep, focus, and adherence to care plans, and over time it can impair healing and overall health status.

This is not eustress, which is positive stress that motivates and enhances performance. It isn’t developmental stress tied to a specific life stage or transition, which would involve challenges related to aging, puberty, or similar milestones. While the situation creates psychological strain, the scenario calls for addressing the negative impact on health rather than labeling it as a mood disorder requiring antidepressants.