Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

True or False: Older individuals are more likely to report psychological symptoms than somatic symptoms.

1. True

2. False

3. Depends on individual circumstances

4. Older adults do not report symptoms accurately

The correct answer is: False

The statement that older individuals are more likely to report psychological symptoms than somatic symptoms is considered false because research has shown that older adults often have a higher propensity to report somatic symptoms rather than psychological ones. This can be attributed to several factors, including cultural attitudes toward mental health, the tendency to express emotional distress through physical complaints, and the fact that physiological changes and chronic health conditions are more common as one ages. Additionally, older adults may not always recognize or articulate psychological symptoms as clearly as somatic ones, leading to a bias towards reporting physical issues related to their health. Therefore, it is generally understood that somatic complaints often take precedence in the self-reporting of symptoms among older populations.