According to Hill's roller-coaster profile, which stage is characterized by a family's attempts to cope with a stress-provoking event?

• A. Period of Disorganization
• B. Period of Renewal
• C. Reorganization
• D. Adjustment

Answer: (A)

Hill's roller-coaster profile follows how a family responds to stress in stages: the shock and disruption, the effort to cope, then restructuring, and finally a new normal. The period of disorganization is the moment right after the stress hits, when routines crumble and family members scramble to cope with the new reality. Emotions run high, confusion sets in, and people try out different ways to manage the disruption—this is the core coping phase. After this comes reorganization, where resources and roles are adjusted to fit the new situation, and then renewal, where a new equilibrium is established. So the stage described as the family’s attempts to cope with a stress-provoking event is the period of disorganization.