All of the following show signs of mental disorder except

Concept

In educational and child psychology (as taught in teacher-eligibility syllabi), signs of poor mental health or psychological maladjustment in a student include persistent or pronounced emotional/affective states such as frustration, tension, and anxiety. A relation, by contrast, describes an interpersonal or social connection between people; it is a social construct, not an emotional or behavioural state experienced by an individual, so it does not belong to the category of psychological signs or symptoms at all.

Application

Apply this distinction to the four options. Frustration is the emotional reaction that follows a blocked goal or an unmet need, and a pronounced or persistent frustration response is treated in this framework as an indicator of a student's psychological maladjustment. Tension is a state of mental or physical strain associated with stress, similarly treated as an indicator when pronounced. Anxiety is a persistent state of worry or apprehension, also treated as an indicator of psychological distress. Relation, however, names a social bond between people, not a feeling or state experienced by one person, so it falls outside this category altogether. Since the stem asks which option does NOT show a sign of mental disorder, Relation is the answer.

Contrast

• Frustration — the emotional reaction to a blocked goal; treated as an indicator of maladjustment when persistent or pronounced.

• Tension — mental or physical strain linked to stress; treated as an indicator of maladjustment when persistent or pronounced.

• Anxiety — persistent worry or apprehension; treated as an indicator of maladjustment.

• Relation — an interpersonal or social connection between people, not an affective state at all; this is why it is the exception among the four.