An older adult describes worry about losing her aging husband and being alone. This anxiety reaction is best described as?

An older adult describes worry about losing her aging husband and being alone. This anxiety reaction is best described as?

• A. It concerns future or anticipated events.
• B. It concerns anticipation of danger rather than present danger.
• C. Her symptoms are emotional and not physical.
• D. There is a psychological rather than a physical threat.

Answer: (A)

This item focuses on recognizing future-oriented anxiety. The woman’s worry is about what might happen later—losing her husband and being left alone—so it’s concerned with anticipated events rather than something happening in the present. That makes it best described as concerns about future or anticipated events. While anxiety can have emotional and physical components, and while threats can be psychological or physical, the defining aspect here is the time frame: the fear centers on a possible future situation, not an immediate danger.

This item focuses on recognizing future-oriented anxiety. The woman’s worry is about what might happen later—losing her husband and being left alone—so it’s concerned with anticipated events rather than something happening in the present. That makes it best described as concerns about future or anticipated events.

While anxiety can have emotional and physical components, and while threats can be psychological or physical, the defining aspect here is the time frame: the fear centers on a possible future situation, not an immediate danger.