An older adult client tells the nurse, "My life has been a waste." The nurse recognizes this statement as demonstrating which aspect of psychosocial development?
a. Ego integrity
b. Ego despair
c. Lack of generativity
d. Isolation
ANS: B
Erikson's (1982) model of psychosocial development is used to describe older adult psychosocial development. His is one of the only developmental models that specifically addresses later adulthood (> 60 years) as a stage of ego development. Erikson portrays the maturational crisis of old age as that of ego integrity versus ego despair. Awareness of one's personal mortality leads to the psychosocial crisis identified with this last stage of ego development. Ego despair describes the failure of a person to accept one's life as appropriate and meaningful. Left unresolved, despair leads to feelings of emotional desolation and bitterness. Ego integrity relates to the capacity of older adults to look back on their lives with satisfaction and few regrets, coupled with a willingness to let the next generation carry on their legacy. Lack of generativity and isolation are not stages found in the older adult client.
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