Complete Exam Guide Subject-wise practice platform
0 XP
Growth and Development

Adult Developmental Tasks Practice Questions

20 free Adult Developmental Tasks practice questions for the NCLEX Exam. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.

Practice in Quiz Mode

Question 1 of 20 Medium

According to Erikson, which developmental task is primarily engaged by a young adult in the age range of 18-40?

  1. A Trust vs. Mistrust
  2. B Intimacy vs. Isolation
  3. C Generativity vs. Stagnation
  4. D Ego Integrity vs. Despair

Correct answer: Intimacy vs. Isolation

According to Erikson, the stage of young adulthood is Intimacy vs. Isolation, where individuals establish close relationships; failing that may lead to isolation.

Question 2 of 20 Easy

Which developmental task is listed for young adults by Robert J. Havighurst?

  1. A Adjust to retirement and reduced income
  2. B Help children become responsible adults
  3. C Achieve autonomy, establish a residence and household
  4. D Reflect back on one’s life with satisfaction or regret

Correct answer: Achieve autonomy, establish a residence and household

Havighurst lists tasks for young adults such as achieving autonomy, establishing identity, beginning a career, forming intimate relationships, establishing a residence and household.

Question 3 of 20 Medium

In middle adulthood, which developmental task involves mentoring younger workers and contributing to community development?

  1. A Industry vs. Inferiority
  2. B Identity vs. Role Confusion
  3. C Generativity vs. Stagnation
  4. D Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt

Correct answer: Generativity vs. Stagnation

In middle adulthood, Erikson's developmental task is Generativity vs. Stagnation, where generativity involves contributing to the next generation and society.

Question 4 of 20 Easy

What is a key developmental task for an older adult, approximately 65+ years of age?

  1. A Building competence in formal schooling
  2. B Establishing a first career and household
  3. C Achieving ego integrity versus despair
  4. D Forming a first intimate partnership

Correct answer: Achieving ego integrity versus despair

Erikson’s last stage for late adulthood is Ego Integrity vs. Despair, reflecting life review and acceptance of one’s life.

Question 5 of 20 Medium

Which concept of adult development is reflected when a young adult revisits career goals at age 30 due to lack of meaning in the current direction?

  1. A Early childhood moral development
  2. B Midlife transition tasks
  3. C Sensorimotor development
  4. D Adolescence role confusion

Correct answer: Midlife transition tasks

Around age 30, there is a “30-year transition” involving reflection, possible changes in life structure or career as per adult developmental theories.

Question 6 of 20 Medium

What is a common developmental challenge for a middle-aged adult balancing caregiving responsibilities?

  1. A Emerging adulthood independence
  2. B 'Sandwich generation' caregiver stress
  3. C Formal operational thinking limits
  4. D Identity versus role confusion conflict

Correct answer: 'Sandwich generation' caregiver stress

Middle adulthood is characterized by dual caregiving responsibilities for children and aging parents, often referred to as the 'sandwich generation.'

Question 7 of 20 Easy

When an older adult retires at age 67 and explores new hobbies and volunteer work, they are working towards which developmental outcome?

  1. A Intimacy
  2. B Autonomy
  3. C Ego integrity
  4. D Industry

Correct answer: Ego integrity

In later adulthood, successful adaptation and life review lead to ego integrity, a sense of coherence and fulfillment.

Question 8 of 20 Easy

Which domain of development does the emphasized developmental task of 'establishing a career direction' among young adults reflect?

  1. A The cognitive development domain only
  2. B The social and emotional domain only
  3. C Both vocational and personal identity
  4. D The sensorimotor coordination domain only

Correct answer: Both vocational and personal identity

Establishing a career direction engages personal identity formation and vocational role, components of young adult developmental tasks.

Question 9 of 20 Medium

When a middle-aged adult questions the meaning of life and reconsiders accomplishments, which concept does this align with?

  1. A Preconventional moral reasoning
  2. B Midlife transition or crisis
  3. C Sensorimotor stage
  4. D Early childhood trust stage

Correct answer: Midlife transition or crisis

The midlife transition frequently involves reflection on accomplishments, revaluation of goals and life structure in middle adulthood.

Question 10 of 20 Easy

According to developmental task theory, what is the likely negative outcome if a young adult fails to form intimate bonds and remains isolated?

  1. A Ego integrity
  2. B Role confusion
  3. C Isolation and self-absorption
  4. D Industry

Correct answer: Isolation and self-absorption

Failure to form close relationships during the young adult stage may result in isolation and self-absorption, according to the theory.

Question 11 of 20 Easy

Which developmental crisis remains unresolved if an older adult expresses bitterness about unresolved issues and feels they have not lived a meaningful life?

  1. A Establishing a household and managing finances
  2. B Becoming a parent and rearing young children
  3. C Reviewing life and reconciling past failures
  4. D Establishing a career and living independently

Correct answer: Reviewing life and reconciling past failures

In late adulthood, failure to achieve ego integrity may lead to despair, regret, and bitterness about the past.

Question 12 of 20 Easy

Which of the following is not considered a typical developmental task in young adulthood?

  1. A Establishing a household and managing finances
  2. B Becoming a parent and learning to rear children
  3. C Reflecting on life and making peace with past failures
  4. D Establishing a career and independent living

Correct answer: Reflecting on life and making peace with past failures

Reflecting on life and reconciling past failures is more a later adulthood task, not typically a young adult developmental task.

Question 13 of 20 Medium

When a middle-aged adult finds purpose in leading community projects and mentoring youth, which concept of Erikson does this exemplify?

  1. A Isolation
  2. B Stagnation
  3. C Generativity
  4. D Inferiority

Correct answer: Generativity

Generativity in middle adulthood involves guiding the next generation and contributing to society, according to Erikson's theory.

Question 14 of 20 Easy

Which developmental stage according to Havighurst includes the task of helping children become independent and responsible adults?

  1. A Early adulthood tasks
  2. B Later infancy tasks
  3. C Middle-age tasks
  4. D Older adulthood tasks

Correct answer: Middle-age tasks

In middle adulthood, tasks include assisting children to become responsible adults, adjusting to aging parents, and re-evaluating career goals.

Question 15 of 20 Medium

What milestone is demonstrated by a young adult moving out, becoming financially independent, and engaging in civic involvement?

  1. A Achieving ego integrity in late life
  2. B Resolving competence versus inferiority
  3. C Achieving autonomy and social responsibility
  4. D Reaching formal operational reasoning capacity

Correct answer: Achieving autonomy and social responsibility

Early adulthood tasks include achieving autonomy, financial and residential independence, and participating in community life.

Question 16 of 20 Medium

The shift in adult cognition during middle adulthood towards greater expertise and problem-solving is described in which principle?

  1. A The preconventional morality reasoning stage
  2. B Maturity principle of adult personality growth
  3. C The sensorimotor reflexive behaviour stage
  4. D The early childhood egocentric reasoning stage

Correct answer: Maturity principle of adult personality growth

Middle adulthood is characterized by increases in conscientiousness, agreeableness, and less neuroticism, reflecting the maturity principle.

Question 17 of 20 Medium

In older adulthood, a developmental task involves coping with physical decline and retirement. What does this reflect a need for?

  1. A Establishing a first stable career path
  2. B Resolving the identity-versus-role-confusion crisis
  3. C Developing new purpose and adapting to role loss
  4. D Forming the very first intimate adult relationships

Correct answer: Developing new purpose and adapting to role loss

Late adulthood challenges include retirement, changing roles, and physical decline, requiring adaptation to new roles and finding purpose.

Question 18 of 20 Easy

What term best describes the concept that successful completion of each stage of development increases success in subsequent stages?

  1. A Regression
  2. B Sequential mastery
  3. C Random development
  4. D Static personality

Correct answer: Sequential mastery

Successful mastery of tasks in one period supports competence in later periods as per the model of developmental tasks.

Question 19 of 20 Medium

If a middle-aged adult who has achieved generativity starts worrying about mortality and retirement, which transitional period are they likely entering?

  1. A The early-adulthood intimacy transition
  2. B Mid-to-late transition (around age 60)
  3. C The adolescent identity-formation transition
  4. D The infancy attachment-forming transition

Correct answer: Mid-to-late transition (around age 60)

Around ages 60–65 adults enter a late-adult transition dealing with retirement and mortality according to transitional theories.

Question 20 of 20 Medium

What maladaptive outcome may occur if a young adult remains self-focused and unable to commit to relationships or career direction?

  1. A Isolation and stagnation
  2. B Generativity
  3. C Intimacy and productivity
  4. D Ego integrity

Correct answer: Isolation and stagnation

Failure to engage in intimacy or productive roles in early adulthood may lead to isolation and later stagnation.

0 / 20 answered