A nurse is assessing a family with adolescents. The family consists of a father, mother, a 13-year-old son, a 14-year-old son from a previous marriage, and a 16-year-old daughter. Which statement by the parents would lead the nurse to suspect a potential risk factor for altered health with this family

The option: "Our - 16-year old just seems to butt heads with us at every turn" would lead the nurse to suspect a potential risk factor for altered health with that family

Explanation:

The ultimate goal or need for adolescents is the independence of their thoughts and actions which drives them to slowly withdraw from their parents.

Their thinking becomes more abstract, rationale and critical as they mature with age. These mental developments make them think differently than their parents and will start to argue with their parents and butt heads with them.

Further, if they belong to a mixed or blended family, they become more frustrated and disturbed. The adolescents of such families need more support, understanding and emotional bonding.

When they do not get the required support or emotional bonding they should get, they try to argue or butt heads with their parents for everything which will make them become aggressive or frustrated.

This can lead to mental health issues like depression or hypermaniac behaviors. They might also resort to illegal drugs, smoking, alcoholism etc to mask their feelings. All these issues can become a potential risk factor for altered health within the family.