Deck 11: Occupational Health Psychology

Question 1

John is one of the most senior employees at New Millennium Enterprises and refuses to wear the safety goggles provided for him.He boasts to his co-workers that he "doesn't need those dumb things," he's not stupid enough to get hurt.As a result many of his co-workers also do not wear the safety equipment provided.Which of the following would MOST likely explain the reason why New Millennium Enterprises may be having difficulty getting their employees to follow needed safety procedures?

A)The equipment being provided is uncomfortable.
B)The organizational climate discourages it.
C)They are not offering big enough incentives for safe performance.
D)Their employees are high in risk taking behavior.

Answer 1

The organizational climate discourages it.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT effective in reducing repetitive strain injuries such as Carpal tunnel syndrome?

A)Provide the employee with rest periods
B)Proper equipment design
C)Increase vacation time
D)Limit the amount of time the employee can perform the task each day

Answer 2

Increase vacation time

Question 3

What percentage of workplace violence was committed by coworkers or former co-workers?

A)15%
B)54%
C)70%
D)95%

Answer 3

15%

Question 4

In the United States,the _________ is charged with seeing that workplace safeguards are used to protect workers.

A)Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
B)Occupational Safety Office (OSO)
C)Center for Disease Control (CDC)
D)National Safety Office (NSO)

Question 5

The text mentions that concern of _________ has had considerable impact on safety practices in the health professions.For example,now most dentists routinely wear masks and rubber gloves.

A)AIDS
B)hepatitis B
C)the flu
D)toxic substances

Question 6

Repetitive strain injuries can be decreased by

A)giving employees frequent rest breaks.
B)designing tools and equipment to reduce the strain.
C)selecting employees with suitable physical traits.
D)Both a and b are correct.

Question 7

Carpal tunnel syndrome is related to which of the following work conditions affecting employee health and safety?

A)Toxic substances
B)Repetitive actions
C)Sick building syndrome
D)Night shifts

Question 8

John wears disposable gloves whenever he performs any procedures on his patients.He also immediately disposes of any bodily fluid spills and recaps and disposes of any needles in special containers.John is following as set of safety rules known as

A)sterile techniques.
B)CDC precautions.
C)universal precautions.
D)OSHA guidelines.

Question 9

People who work with the public are at greater risk for:

A)repetitive strain injuries
B)exposure to toxic chemicals
C)nonfatal assault
D)workplace accidents

Question 10

Which of the following is most likely to have experienced violence or a physical assault while on the job?

A)the postman
B)Sales associates working the day shift
C)Convenience store clerks working the night shift
D)A college professor

Question 11

What is the best approach for preventing accidents?

A)Design tools appropriately
B)Train workers to avoid accidents
C)Don't hire accident-prone workers
D)The best approach depends on the particular situation.

Question 12

Which of the following jobs put employees at particular risk for experiencing Type 2 violence (i.e. ,violence by customers or clients of the organization)?

A)taxi drivers
B)nurses
C)police officers
D)office managers

Question 13

Carpal tunnel syndrome is

A)due to poor typing habits.
B)always cured by rest.
C)most common among farm workers.
D)a repetitive strain injury.

Question 14

What is the leading cause of accidental death on the job in the U.S.?

A)Falls
B)Motor vehicle accidents
C)Exposure to toxic chemicals
D)Electrocution

Question 15

The "sick building phenomenon" is related to which condition affecting employee health and safety?

A)Toxic Substances
B)Repetitive Actions
C)Workplace Violence
D)Infectious Disease

Question 16

Engagement in universal precautions is affected by

A)supervisor encouragement.
B)the need to work quickly.
C)Both A and B
D)None of the above

Question 17

Which of the following statements about musculoskeletal disorders (MSD)is true?

A)MSD is more likely if employees have high autonomy.
B)Improper posture can lead to MSD.
C)The strategies to reduce MSDs are fairly expensive.
D)Rest breaks do little to reduce MSD.

Question 18

Pay incentive systems are associated with accidents on the job.

Question 19

Which of the following was NOT discussed by the text as a physical work condition that could affect health and safety?

A)Infectious disease
B)Physical assaults
C)Anaerobic conditions
D)Repetitive actions

Question 20

Which of the following jobs results in the highest rate of fatal accidents?

A)Mining
B)Construction
C)Government
D)Transportation and public utility

Question 21

Flextime schedules consistently lead to improvements in

A)employee health.
B)attendance (tardiness and absence).
C)job performance.
D)job satisfaction.

Question 22

Francis works a schedule that calls for her to work four (4)10 hour days each week.This type of work schedule is called

A)flextime.
B)shift work.
C)long work schedule.
D)a normal work schedule.

Question 23

When is working in excess of 48 hours per week related to health problems?

A)When workers do so voluntarily
B)When workers do so non-voluntarily
C)When long shifts rotate schedules.
D)None of the above

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT true of long shifts?

A)Many employees prefer them.
B)Fatigue can be a problem.
C)Some employees have reported less fatigue with 12-hour shifts.
D)No negative health effects have been documented.

Question 25

In addition to health problems,night shift workers are often prone to difficulties

A)in salary negotiations.
B)in socializing with family and friends.
C)with job productivity.
D)all of the above

Question 26

A well-established organizational advantage to flextime is that it

A)increases employee productivity.
B)decreases absences.
C)increases job satisfaction.
D)increases organizational commitment.

Question 27

The most obvious health problem for night shift workers is

A)sleep disturbances.
B)psychological problems.
C)digestive problems.
D)heart disease.

Question 28

A job stressor is defined as

A)a psychological reaction to a physical threat.
B)a condition that requires an adaptive response by the employee.
C)a potential aversive reaction by an employee.
D)an individual characteristic that leads to heightened awareness.

Question 29

In the sick building phenomenon,many individuals who work in a building develop health problems,due to

A)toxic substances and ambient temperature.
B)toxic substances or micro-organisms.
C)ambient temperature and noise.
D)toxic substances,heat,and noise.

Question 30

Schedules that allow workers to determine,at least in part,the hours of the day that they work are called _________ schedules.

A)optional
B)flextime
C)alternative
D)rotating

Question 31

Working the night shift is associated with sleep disturbances and

A)psychological problems.
B)neurological problems.
C)cardiac problems.
D)social problems.

Question 32

_________ is an aversive reaction by an employee to a situation at work that requires an adaptive response.

A)A job strain
B)A job stressor
C)Stressing out
D)Employee marginalization

Question 33

Working the night shift is associated with which of the following health problems?

A)Sleep disturbances
B)Psychological problems
C)Cardiac problems
D)Carpal tunnel syndrome

Question 34

The most popular alternative long work schedule is the

A)5/40.
B)5/150.
C)4/40.
D)3/36.

Question 35

Which of the following is an important difficulty associated with longer work shifts?

A)Increased commuting costs to the employee
B)Fatigue
C)Downsizing,due to the decrease in the number of employees needed
D)All of the above

Question 36

Kay works one shift for several weeks and then moves to a different shift for a few weeks,and then works a different shift again.This is called

A)flextime.
B)circadian rhythm shifts.
C)fixed shifts.
D)rotating shifts.

Question 37

A condition or situation at work that requires an adaptive response on the part of the employee is called

A)a job strain.
B)a job stressor.
C)stress.
D)None of the above

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT a problem with controlling exposure to toxic substances in the workplace?

A)Some substances have delayed effects.
B)Employees in jobs that appear safe may actually be exposed to toxic chemicals.
C)No government agency is responsible for controlling exposure to toxic substances.
D)Some exposed individuals never show any ill effects.

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of longer work shifts such as the 4 day 10 hour shift?

A)Improved job satisfaction
B)More days off
C)Lowered commuting costs
D)Higher pay

Question 40

Most people experience regular daily physiological changes (e.g. ,body temperature,hormone levels).This is called the person's

A)fixed rhythm.
B)circadian rhythm.
C)rotating rhythm.
D)diurnal cycle.

Question 41

Mistreatment in the workplace is very rare.

Question 42

Mary Margaret is teacher who asked to do tasks that she feels are inappropriate,such as custodial duties.This is referred to as:

A)a contract violation
B)a problem with the job description
C)an illegitimate task
D)union duties

Question 43

Psychological reactions to stress include which of the following?

A)Job dissatisfaction
B)Headaches
C)Substance abuse
D)Accidents

Question 44

_____________ consists of low-intensity verbal acts of rudeness and insensitivity that are not always clearly intended to harm someone else.

A)Mobbing
B)Bullying
C)Incivility
D)Interpersonal conflict

Question 45

Sandra is torn between attending an important meeting at her office and her 10 year old daughter's baseball game.She is mostly experiencing a type of job stress known as

A)extrarole conflict.
B)intrarole conflict.
C)role ambiguity.
D)role overload.

Question 46

Job stress that results from a lack of a clearly defined job function is called

A)role conflict.
B)role uncertainty.
C)role ambiguity.
D)role overload.

Question 47

Interpersonal conflict has been shown to be related to

A)physical strains.
B)psychological strains.
C)behavioral strains.
D)all of the above

Question 48

____________ is the extent to which employees are unclear about what their job functions and responsibilities are supposed to be.

A)Job strain
B)Role conflict
C)Role ambiguity
D)Job confusion

Question 49

As employees' control increases,their

A)job satisfaction increases.
B)health symptoms increase.
C)psychological strains increase.
D)job performance decreases.

Question 50

Many teachers in community colleges in Florida are supposed to grade 5,000 words of writing from each of 150+ students in each semester.This is simply too much for them to do.That is,the___________ is very high.

A)quantitative workload
B)qualitative workload
C)job strain
D)work overload

Question 51

Allan is unsure of the expectations of his new job.He is most likely experiencing which of the following?

A)Role conflict
B)Role uncertainty
C)Role ambiguity
D)role overload

Question 52

What type of job stressor is likely to be present when two supervisors send conflicting instructions to the same employee?

A)Role conflict
B)Role uncertainty
C)Role ambiguity
D)Role overload

Question 53

Workload has been shown to be related to

A)physical strains.
B)psychological strains.
C)behavioral strains.
D)All three types of strains.

Question 54

Jex and Beehr (1991)categorize job strains into three categories.Which of the following is NOT one of these categories?

A)Psychological reactions
B)Physical reactions
C)Behavioral reactions
D)Emotional reactions

Question 55

Research has shown that high levels of role ambiguity and role conflict are NOT associated with

A)very low performance.
B)job dissatisfaction.
C)intention to quit.
D)anxiety.

Question 56

Research on role ambiguity and role conflict has focused primarily on

A)physical strains.
B)psychological strains.
C)behavioral strains.
D)emotional strains.

Question 57

Cancer and heart disease represent _________ strain.

A)psychological
B)short-term
C)behavioral
D)long-term

Question 58

Smoking and substance abuse are what forms of strain?

A)Psychological
B)Physical
C)Behavioral
D)Emotional

Question 59

Jackie has heard rumors that there is to be a downsizing in her department at New Millennium Enterprises.She realizes that she was the last one hired in the department and begins to worry about the security of her job.She begins to experience anxiety.Which category of job strain is she experiencing?

A)Psychological
B)Physical
C)Behavioral
D)Emotional

Question 60

When Aaron took Organic Chemistry he discovered that the work was too difficult for him.That is,the __________ was very high for Aaron.

A)quantitative workload
B)qualitative workload
C)work overload
D)job strain

Question 61

Burnout is an example of a__________ reaction to being on the job too long.

A)behavioral
B)physical
C)psychological
D)neurotic

Question 62

What strain does burnout lead to?

A)absence
B)turnover
C)poor performance
D)All of the above

Question 63

Which of the following is NOT a component of burnout measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory?

A)Physical exhaustion
B)Depersonalization
C)Reduced personal accomplishment
D)Emotional exhaustion

Question 64

In research on burnout,___________ is the feeling of tiredness and fatigue at work.

A)emotional exhaustion
B)physical exhaustion
C)depersonalization
D)reduced personal accomplishment

Question 65

In research on burnout,____________ is the feeling that the employee is not achieving anything worthwhile at work.

A)emotional exhaustion
B)depersonalization
C)job strain
D)reduced personal accomplishment

Question 66

Which of the following statements about burnout is TRUE?

A)The causes of burnout are well documented in experimental studies.
B)Taking a respite from work can reduce burnout.
C)Taking a vacation can have long-term effects on burnout.
D)Burnout is unrelated to physical symptoms.

Question 67

Which of the following statements about the use of alcohol as coping is TRUE?

A)Heavy drinking at home is unrelated to workplace absence.
B)Alcohol consumption is related to unpleasant physical conditions such as air pollution,heat,and heavy workload.
C)Personality traits are unrelated to the use of alcohol among employees.
D)Using alcohol to cope is more socially acceptable among employees in China compared to American employees.

Question 68

As reported in the text,which of the following would NOT be a factor contributing to work-family conflict?

A)negative affectivity
B)working many hours
C)lack of schedule flexibility
D)repetitive strain injuries

Question 69

Two career couples with children and single parents are particularly prone to which of the following?

A)intrarole conflict
B)qualitative workload
C)role ambiguity
D)work-family conflict

Question 70

The more control an individual has over their job

A)the higher his or her role ambiguity.
B)the lower his or her job stress.
C)the higher his or her job strain.
D)the lower his or her quantitative workload.

Question 71

Which stressor has NOT been associated with burnout?

A)interpersonal conflict
B)workload
C)role conflict.
D)control

Question 72

Recently Mary' job performance has been declining and she is developing feelings of emotional exhaustion and fatigue,she has begun to be hostile towards her co-workers and recently had a "blow-up" with one of her long time clients.I/O psychologists might argue that Mary is experiencing

A)Harassment.
B)Role conflict.
C)Role ambiguity.
D)Burnout.

Question 73

Stressors that require adaptation are called:

A)demands
B)work overload
C)controls
D)behavioral strains

Question 74

Burnout may be considered a type of

A)job stressor.
B)job strain.
C)role conflict.
D)neurotic response.

Question 75

Which of the following statement about burnout is correct?

A)It only applies to the helping professions.
B)It is generally the result of working intensely with other people.
C)It applies to workers in all sorts of jobs,even those who have little contact with others.
D)It seems to result from poor health habits.

Question 76

Work-family conflict is a form of:

A)extrarole conflict
B)intrarole conflict
C)role ambiguity
D)qualitative workload

Question 77

____ is the perception by employees that co-workers and supervisors engage in self-serving behavior in which they put their own interests above those of the organization and other people.

A)control
B)organizational politics
C)workload
D)demand-control

Question 78

When a person is emotionally exhausted and has low work motivation after being on the job for years,we say s/he is experiencing

A)physical job strain.
B)behavioral job strain.
C)burnout.
D)a midlife crisis.

Question 79

The two most frequently used approaches by organizations to handle work-family conflict are:

A)flexible work schedules and stress reduction programs
B)on-site child care and stress reduction programs
C)flexible work schedules and on-site child care
D)time management seminars and on-site child care

Question 80

In research on burnout,____________ is the development of a cynical and callous feeling toward others.

A)emotional exhaustion
B)sociopathology
C)depersonalization
D)reduced personal accomplishment