Denial: A conceptual analysis

The term denial is used in nursing to describe a clientʹs behavior. A random sample of 18 articles published in English from 1990 to 1999 was identified for conceptual analysis using Rogersʹ methodology. The 2 main definitions identified ranged from an adaptive to maladaptive coping process. Anxiety or perceived threats evolving from situational or maturational crises were antecedents. Events that followed typically resulted in either positive or negative outcomes. Related concepts used most often were avoidance, unrealistic hopefulness, and repression.