maladjustment

noun

1. bad or unsatisfactory adjustment.

noun

1. psychol a failure to meet the demands of society, such as coping with problems and social relationships: usually reflected in emotional instability
2. faulty or bad adjustment

n.1823, from mal- + adjustment. n.

1. Faulty or inadequate adjustment.
2. Inability to adjust to the demands of interpersonal relationships and the stresses of daily living.

Inability to react successfully and satisfactorily to the demands of one’s environment. Though the term applies to a wide range of biological and social conditions, it often implies an individual’s failure to meet social or cultural expectations. In psychology, the term generally refers to unsatisfactory behavior patterns that cause anxiety and require psychotherapy.