Question

The nurse is caring for a 7-year-old girl hospitalized in isolation. The nurse notices that the girl has begun sucking her thumb and changing her speech patterns to those of a toddler. What is the girl exhibiting signs of?

A) Regression
B) Suppression
C) Repression
D) Denial

Answer 1

The girl is exhibiting signs of regression, which is a defense mechanism where an individual acts younger than their age.

Step-by-step explanation:

The girl is exhibiting signs of regression. Regression is a defense mechanism in which an individual acts younger than their age, often in response to stress or anxiety. In this case, the 7-year-old girl sucking her thumb and changing her speech patterns to those of a toddler are behaviors typically associated with younger children.