Definitions:

1. Describes someone who is unable to cope effectively with the demands of their environment, often resulting in behavioral, emotional, or social difficulties. ADJECTIVE
   • The child was maladjusted and stuggled to make friends at school due to a lack of social skills.
2. Emotionally unstable and having difficulty coping with personal relationships. ADJECTIVE
   • Maladjusted adolescents often engage in risky behaviors, such as substance abuse and unprotected sex.
3. Poorly adjusted to demands and stresses of daily living. ADJECTIVE
   • Environmental stressors, as poverty and discrimination, can contribute to maladjusted behaviors in individuals.
4. Term often used in psychology to describe someone whose emotional responses or behaviors are not in harmony with societal expectations or personal well-being. ADJECTIVE
   • Maladjusted teens may require counseling to help them navigate their emotions and develop better coping mechanisms.

Synonyms:

• confused
• distressed
• disturbed
• dysfunctional
• unadapted
• unbalanced
• unstable