Deck 12: Section 2: Stress, Health, and Coping

Question 1

Mendez is a researcher who believes that physical and emotional health are affected by the complex interaction of biological, psychological, behavioral, and social factors. Thus, Dr. Mendez tends to follow the _____ model in her research.

A)general adaptation
B)psychoneuroimmunology
C)biopsychosocial
D)cognitive appraisal

Answer 1

biopsychosocial

Question 2

The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS):

A)measures acculturative stress.
B)uses personality measures to estimate the length of time it will take a person to recover and readjust from the stressful effects of major life traumas.
C)was an attempt to quantify and rank the impact of stress-producing events in a person's life.
D)measures the effect that everyday events that annoy and upset people has on health and well-being.

Answer 2

was an attempt to quantify and rank the impact of stress-producing events in a person's life.

Question 3

_____ is a negative emotional state occurring in response to events that are perceived as taxing or exceeding a person's resources or ability to cope.

A)Hassle
B)Stress
C)Stressor
D)Appraisal

Answer 3

Stress

Question 4

A number of problems with the life events approach have been identified. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

A)The link between scores on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) and the development of physical or psychological problems is relatively weak.
B)There is an inverse relationship between scores on the SRRS and physical and psychological problems; the higher the score, the lower the health risks, and vice versa.
C)The SRRS does not take into account the person's subjective appraisal of an event, response to that event, or ability to cope with the event.
D)The life event approach assumes that any change produces stress, but research shows that positive changes are much less likely to produce stress than negative changes.

Question 5

Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe believed that any change that required you to adjust your behavior and lifestyle would cause stress. In an attempt to measure the amount of stress people experienced, they developed the:

A)Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ).
B)Daily Hassles Scale (DHS).
C)Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS).
D)Cognitive Reappraisal Rating Scale (CRRS).

Question 6

Early stress researchers Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe:

A)showed that disruptions in personal relationships were the strongest predictors of heart disease and cancer.
B)developed the theory called general adaptation syndrome (GAS).
C)demonstrated that the immune system could be classically conditioned.
D)believed that any change that required a person to adjust his or her behavior or lifestyle would cause stress.

Question 7

Which of the following is the BEST definition of stress?

A)the demands that are made on you by other people
B)deadlines, daily hassles, or inconveniences
C)a negative emotional state caused by your perception that you are unable to cope with events or circumstances
D)the mental processes that people use to make sense out of their environment

Question 8

A(n) _____involves conjuring up mental images of people, circumstances, or items that you are thankful for.

A)gratitude list
B)appraisal
C)destressor
D)reappraisal

Question 9

The events or situations that are perceived as harmful, threatening, or challenging are called:

A)catecholamines.
B)daily hassles.
C)stressors.
D)life change units.

Question 10

When Angela goes to graduate school she wants to focus on how psychological, social, emotional, and behavioral factors influence health, illness, and treatment. Angela's interest is in:

A)physiology.
B)psychoneuroimmunology.
C)cross-cultural psychology.
D)health psychology.

Question 11

Health psychology is guided by the _____ model of health, illness, and well-being.

A)stress and coping
B)biopsychosocial
C)psychoneuroimmunology
D)general adaptation

Question 12

When Chris missed his connecting flight due to bad weather he became extremely upset and worried about the important meeting he was going to miss. In this scenario the missed connection is an example of a _____, and his response to the missed connection is an example of _____.

A)life event; the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome
B)stressor; stress
C)hassle; the stress contagion effect
D)stress; stressor

Question 13

The branch of psychology that studies how biological, behavioral, and social factors influence health, illness, medical treatment, and health-related behaviors is called:

A)social psychology.
B)biological psychology.
C)health psychology.
D)psychoneuroimmunology.

Question 14

Gordon uses the biopsychosocial model to guide her research into how psychological factors influence health, illness, and treatment. Dr. Gordon is MOST likely a:

A)health psychologist.
B)social psychologist.
C)neuroscientist.
D)psychoneuroimmunologist.

Question 15

In contrast to the conclusions reached by early stress researchers Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe, contemporary health psychologists found that:

A)to improve its predictive power the Social Readjustment Rating Scale needs to be expanded from 43 life events to 125 life events.
B)positive life events such as vacations or marriage have a worse impact on physical health than negative life events.
C)the impact of major life events is more damaging than originally thought and high scores on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale are invariably associated with severe illness or disease.
D)most people weather major life events without developing severe physical or psychological problems.

Question 16

During their third year at college Tammy and Timothy both lost their part-time jobs in the library due to funding cutbacks. Tammy was mildly disturbed. She shrugged her shoulders and said she'd soon get another job. Timothy was distraught and believed he might have to quit college. Their different reactions to the same stressful event emphasizes the importance of:

A)their respective cognitive appraisals of the event.
B)gender differences in response to stressors.
C)cultural differences in response to stressors.
D)quantifying major life events in terms of life change units.

Question 17

Which of the following people developed the cognitive appraisal model of stress?

A)Hans Selye
B)Richard Lazarus
C)Richard Rahe
D)Walter Cannon

Question 18

Which model of stress emphasizes the role of an individual's evaluation of events and situations and of the resources that he or she has available to deal with the event or situation?

A)cognitive appraisal model
B)fight-or-flight model
C)tend-and-befriend model
D)acculturative stress model

Question 19

The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), which was an attempt to quantify and rank the impact of stress-producing events in a person's life, was developed by:

A)Richard Lazarus.
B)Robert Ader and Nicholas Cohen.
C)Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe.
D)Janice Kiecolt-Glaser and Ron Glaser.

Question 20

When Rachel completed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) experiment her score based on events during the previous year was 350 life change units. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A)Rachel will almost certainly develop severe psychological and physical problems.
B)It is not possible to make an accurate prediction about Rachel's future health because scores on the SRRS are only weakly correlated with the development of physical and psychological problems.
C)Rachel's low score indicates that she has experienced very few problems or hassles during the past year.
D)Positive life events in Rachel's life will offset any stress caused by negative life events.

Question 21

Carl has had a lot of readjustments in the last few months. First, he was fired from his job. Next, his home was foreclosed upon, and then, his wife filed for divorce. Based on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale shown in Table 12.1, which of the following answers shows how Carl's readjustments would rank (from largest to smallest) in terms of Life Event Units?

A)fired at work, divorce, foreclosure
B)divorce, fired at work, foreclosure
C)foreclosure, fired at work, divorce
D)divorce, foreclosure, fired at work

Question 22

According to Table 12.2 in the text, which of the following is NOT listed as a hassle on the College Daily Hassles Scale?

A)concerns about failing a course
B)increased class workload
C)change to different line of work
D)concerns about meeting high standards

Question 23

Research on the relationship between daily hassles and psychological distress and physical symptoms has shown that the:

A)frequency of daily hassles is unrelated to psychological distress and physical illness.
B)number of daily hassles people experience is a better predictor of psychological distress and physical illness than the number of major life events experienced.
C)number of major life events people experience is a better predictor of psychological distress and physical illness than the number of daily hassles experienced.
D)more hassles you experience, the less likely you are to suffer psychological distress and physical illness.

Question 24

In their research, Dr. Grayson and his colleagues discovered there was a link between the number of daily hassles people experienced and psychological distress and physical ailments, such as headaches and backaches. One explanation for this phenomenon is that:

A)while each minor stressor may be relatively unimportant in itself, the effect of daily hassles can be cumulative.
B)even a minor daily hassle produces more stress than a major life event.
C)daily hassles tend to stimulate immune system responses and increase their effectiveness.
D)people who are illness-prone are more likely to experience daily hassles.

Question 25

According to the Social Readjustment Rating Scale shown in Table 12.1, which of the following life changes would receive the highest number of Life Event Units?

A)Death of a spouse
B)Death of a close family member
C)Death of a close friend
D)Marriage

Question 26

Cumulative adversity refers to:

A)events that occur every day and annoy or upset people.
B)situations that are perceived as challenging.
C)events that are negative, severe, and far beyond our normal expectations for everyday life.
D)the total amount of negative events experienced over a lifetime.

Question 27

Based on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale shown in Table 12.1, which of the following adults would receive the greatest number of Life Event Units?

A)Marta, who is pregnant
B)Dante, who recently moved from the morning shift to the night shift at work
C)Vie, who got married last weekend
D)Thom, who foreclosed on his home mortgage

Question 28

In terms of daily hassles, what gender differences have been found?

A)Daily hassles for men are most commonly related to school- and job-related issues, while daily hassles for women are most commonly due to family demands and interpersonal conflict.
B)Women's daily hassles are more commonly related to money problems, while men's daily hassles are more commonly due to interpersonal conflict.
C)There are no significant gender differences in either the frequency or cause of daily hassles.
D)Men are more likely to cope with daily hassles by becoming angry, while women are more likely to respond to daily hassles by withdrawing from others.

Question 29

Witnessing or surviving a violent attack and experiencing situations associated with combat, warfare, or major disasters are examples of the types of events that are typically considered to be:

A)life change units.
B)traumatic.
C)type A events.
D)daily hassles.

Question 30

In September Bryant started classes at State University. In December he took a month-long vacation, during which he went back to his hometown to celebrate Christmas with his family. Based on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale shown in Table 12.1, which of the following answers shows how Sandy's readjustments would rank (from largest to smallest) in terms of Life Event Units?

A)beginning school, Christmas, vacation
B)vacation, Christmas, beginning school
C)beginning school, vacation, Christmas
D)Christmas, beginning school, vacation

Question 31

_____ are events or situations that are negative, severe, and far beyond our normal expectations for everyday life or life events.

A)Life event units
B)Daily hassles
C)Traumatic events
D)Type A events

Question 32

Kathleen overslept, got caught in rush-hour traffic, and was late for work. During lunch she spilled coffee on her clothes. When she left work that afternoon she got caught in a sudden downpour of rain. By the time she arrived home she felt drained, grumpy, and stressed out. Kathleen's present state is the result of the cumulative effect of:

A)major life events.
B)stress contagion.
C)daily hassles.
D)life change units.

Question 33

_____ are every day, minor events that annoy and upset people.

A)Life change units
B)Daily hassles
C)Catastrophes
D)Type A events

Question 34

Lisa and her husband John had a very stressful day at work. According to psychological research:

A)John is more likely to withdraw from contact with other family members.
B)Lisa is more likely to withdraw from contact with other family members.
C)both Lisa and John are likely to withdraw from contact with other family members.
D)both Lisa and John are likely to seek out contact with other family members, including their teenage children.

Question 35

_____ is a disorder that involves intrusive thoughts of a traumatic event, emotional numbness, and symptoms of anxiety, such as nervousness, sleep disturbances, and irritability.

A)Posttraumatic stress disorder
B)Panic disorder
C)Obsessive-compulsive disorder
D)Generalized anxiety disorder

Question 36

Sandy has had a lot of readjustments in the last few months. First, she moved out of her parent's house and into residential housing at State University. Then, she started classes at State University. Three weeks later, she learned that she had become pregnant. Based on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale shown in Table 12.1, which of the following answers shows how Sandy's readjustments would rank (from largest to smallest) in terms of Life Event Units?

A)pregnancy, beginning school, change in residence
B)pregnancy, change in residence, beginning school
C)change in residence, beginning school, pregnancy
D)beginning school, change in residence, pregnancy

Question 37

Which of the following is considered a life change event and is NOT an example of a daily hassle?

A)concern about your weight
B)the cost of repairs to your car
C)not enough money for the rent
D)changing your hours of work and working conditions

Question 38

Resilience refers to:

A)the ability to cope with stress and adversity, to adapt to negative or unforeseen circumstances, and to rebound after negative experiences.
B)positive thoughts that lead to relaxation and calmness.
C)perceiving events as taxing and exceeding the ability to cope.
D)the total amount of negative events experienced over a lifetime.

Question 39

Traumatic events are events or situations that:

A)occur every day and annoy or upset people.
B)are perceived as challenging.
C)are negative, severe, and far beyond our normal expectations for everyday life.
D)are chronic and prolonged and lead to exhaustion.

Question 40

According to the Social Readjustment Rating Scale shown in Table 12.1, which of the following life changes would receive the lowest number of Life Event Units?

A)Death of a spouse
B)Death of a close family member
C)Death of a close friend
D)Marriage

Question 41

Which of the following is NOT a key component of burnout?

A)exhaustion
B)complex work assignments
C)cynicism
D)sense of failure or inadequacy

Question 42

The Culture and Human Behavior box, ''The Stress of Adapting to a New Culture,'' describes four different patterns of adapting to a new culture. Which pattern of acculturation tends to produce the highest level of acculturative stress?

A)integration
B)marginalization
C)assimilation
D)separation

Question 43

People in the _____ socioeconomic levels of society tend to have the _____ levels of psychological distress, illness, and death.

A)lowest; lowest
B)highest; highest
C)lowest; highest
D)highest and lowest; same

Question 44

When work stress is prolonged and becomes chronic, it can produce a stress response called:

A)resilience.
B)burnout.
C)posttraumatic stress disorder.
D)generalized anxiety disorder.

Question 45

The stress that results from the pressure of adapting to a new culture is called:

A)integration-assimilation stress.
B)the stress contagion effect.
C)acculturative stress.
D)assimilation-separation stress.

Question 46

As a new immigrant to the United States, Yangtse was faced with two fundamental questions: ''Should I seek positive relations with the dominant society?'' and ''Is my original cultural identity of value to me, and should I try to maintain it?'' Yangtse answered ''yes '' to both. With reference to the four possible patterns of acculturation Yangtse chose:

A)marginalization.
B)separation.
C)assimilation.
D)integration.

Question 47

When Ramona encountered a new cultural environment she was faced with two fundamental questions: ''Should I seek positive relations with the dominant society?'' and ''Is my original culture of value to me, and should I try to maintain it?'' Which of the following is NOT one of the four possible patterns of acculturation that Ramona might adopt?

A)integration
B)assimilation
C)acceptance
D)separation

Question 48

Studies suggest that even in high-stress occupations or demanding work environments burnout can be prevented. Which of the following options is LEAST likely to reduce the amount of burnout in a workplace?

A)having supportive co-workers
B)fostering a sense of community
C)feeling a sense of teamwork
D)reducing the number of sedentary work assignments

Question 49

When Hamid emigrated to Canada, he went to live with his relatives in a neighborhood populated primarily by others from his own country. Hamid speaks his native language, socializes with people who belong to his ethnic group, and has not yet tried to learn English. According to the Culture and Human Behavior box, ''The Stress of Adapting to a New Culture,'' Hamid's pattern of acculturation is called:

A)integration.
B)assimilation.
C)marginalization.
D)separation.

Question 50

Stress can indirectly undermine health and physical well-being by:

A)causing muscle contractions and elevating blood pressure.
B)disrupting immune system functioning.
C)activating the fight-or-flight response.
D)making people more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors.

Question 51

People who live under difficult or unpleasant conditions often experience:

A)marginalization.
B)the stress contagion effect.
C)acculturative stress.
D)chronic stress.

Question 52

Subtle instances of racism that take a cumulative toll and often contribute to the chronic stress experienced by members of minority groups are referred to as:

A)life change units.
B)daily hassles.
C)microaggressions.
D)stress contagion responses.

Question 53

The Culture and Human Behavior box, ''The Stress of Adapting to a New Culture,'' describes four different patterns of adapting to a new culture. Which pattern of acculturation tends to produce the lowest level of acculturative stress?

A)marginalization
B)separation
C)integration
D)assimilation

Question 54

The term acculturative stress refers to:

A)the second stage of the general adaptation syndrome.
B)the avoidance-avoidance conflict that all new immigrants experience.
C)the stress that results from the pressure of adapting to a new culture.
D)coping strategies that immigrants use.

Question 55

After her husband died last year Sophia moved to a new city, started a new job, and returned to school part time after an absence of ten years. These major life events may create a ripple effect and generate a host of _____ that could significantly _____ Sophia's stress level.

A)life change units; decrease
B)daily hassles; increase
C)immune system responses; decrease
D)daily hassles; decrease

Question 56

Suzanne feels overloaded at work and feels that she has a lack of control over her work environment. This has led to exhaustion, cynicism, and a sense of failure or inadequacy. It is likely that Suzanne is experiencing a phenomenon called:

A)resilience.
B)burnout.
C)posttraumatic stress disorder.
D)generalized anxiety disorder.

Question 57

In their survey research, investigators interested in the relationship between racism and chronic stress found that three-quarters of African American adolescents reported being treated as incompetent or dangerous, or both, because of their race. Such subtle instances of racism are called:

A)daily hassles.
B)acculturative stressors.
C)life change units.
D)microaggressions.

Question 58

When Arnell and his friends go to the local mall they are sometimes perceived as dangerous because of their race. If they are similar to three-quarters of other African American adolescents who reported being treated as incompetent or dangerous, or both, because of their race, they may be experiencing a subtle form of racism called:

A)microaggressions.
B)acculturative stressors.
C)the stress contagion effect.
D)daily hassles.

Question 59

When Nishio emigrated to Australia, he heartily embraced the new culture, adopting the dress and social values of his new home, and soon gave up his old traditions, customs, and language. With reference to the four possible patterns of acculturation Nishio chose:

A)integration.
B)assimilation.
C)separation.
D)marginalization.

Question 60

When Konya emigrated to the United States he found it very difficult to adapt to the new culture. Konya probably experienced:

A)the stress contagion effect.
B)acculturative stress.
C)separation-integration stress.
D)the fight-or-flight response.

Question 61

According to Figure 12.4, Endocrine System Pathways in Stress, which of the following is NOT listed as an effect of corticosteroid release during prolonged stress?

A)increased release of stored energy
B)reduced inflammation
C)reduced immune system response
D)pupils dilate

Question 62

According to Walter Cannon, which of the following is the correct sequence involved in the fight-or-flight response to acute stress?

A)hypothalamus, sympathetic nervous system, adrenal medulla, secretion of catecholamines
B)hypothalamus, parasympathetic nervous system, adrenal cortex, secretion of corticosteroids
C)pituitary gland, secretion of catecholamines, parasympathetic nervous system, release of ACTH
D)pituitary gland, release of ACTH, sympathetic nervous system, adrenal medulla, secretion of catecholamines

Question 63

Stress can directly undermine health and physical well-being by:

A)altering body functions in a way that leads to physical symptoms or illness.
B)disrupting attention and concentration.
C)making people more likely to use tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs.
D)making people less likely to meet deadlines and commitments.

Question 64

Walter Cannon is to _____ as Robert Ader is to _____.

A)the fight-or-flight response; psychoneuroimmunology
B)the general adaptation syndrome; psychoneuroimmunology
C)the general adaptation syndrome; the fight-or-flight response
D)psychoneuroimmunology; the general adaptation syndrome

Question 65

As her car spun out of control on an icy road, Mia's muscles tensed and her blood pressure, heartbeat, and pulse increased dramatically. This rapidly occurring chain of internal physical reactions is called the:

A)general adaptation response.
B)stress contagion effect.
C)fight-or-flight response.
D)endocrine system pathway two response.

Question 66

_____ are hormones secreted by the adrenal medulla that cause rapid physiological arousal and include adrenaline and noradrenaline.

A)Corticosteroids
B)Lymphocytes
C)Teratogens
D)Catecholamines

Question 67

The American physiologist Walter Cannon:

A)described the fight-or-flight response, which involves the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system.
B)demonstrated that the immune system could be classically conditioned, a finding that helped establish the field of psychoneuroimmunology.
C)described the three-stage response to prolonged stress called the general adaptation syndrome.
D)conducted research on explanatory style and the role it plays in stress, health, and illness.

Question 68

The _____ response refers to the rapidly occurring chain of internal physical reactions that prepare people to react to an immediate threat.

A)stress contagion
B)general adaptation
C)escape-avoidance
D)fight-or-flight

Question 69

Which of the following is NOT a typical correlate of chronic stress?

A)decreased immune system response
B)shortened telomeres
C)exhaustion stage of GAS
D)cessation of corticosteroid release

Question 70

When stress is prolonged, the hypothalamus signals the:

A)brain to release catecholamines.
B)thymus to release corticosteroids.
C)immune system to release lymphocytes.
D)pituitary gland to release ACTH.

Question 71

Which of the following is NOT part of the fight-or-flight response?

A)increased heartbeat
B)inhibition of digestion
C)dilation of pupils
D)decreased blood flow to the muscles

Question 72

Which of the following physiological changes is part of the fight-or-flight response?

A)decreased blood pressure
B)inhibition of digestion
C)decreased blood flow to muscles
D)inhibition of adrenaline release

Question 73

Georgia is undergoing an acute, 50-minute stressor-a comprehensive final exam in her psychology class at State University. Which of the following issues is Georgia likely to experience?

A)an increase in catecholamine release
B)a decrease in adrenaline release
C)pupil constriction
D)enhanced digestive processes

Question 74

When a large snarling dog threatened Daniel during his regular morning jog, he experienced the classic symptoms of the fight-or-flight response. According to Walter Cannon, Daniel's response to this acute level of stress involves both:

A)the parasympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system.
B)activation of the hypothalamus and the release of ACTH.
C)the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system.
D)activation of the adrenal cortex and the secretion of corticosteroids.

Question 75

The general adaptation syndrome, a three-stage progression of physical changes that occur in response to intense and prolonged stress, was described by:

A)Walter Cannon.
B)Robert Ader.
C)Janice Kiecolt-Glaser.
D)Hans Selye.

Question 76

Walter Cannon is to _____ as Hans Selye is to _____.

A)the fight-or-flight response; the general adaptation syndrome
B)psychoneuroimmunology; biopsychosocial psychology
C)the general adaptation syndrome; the fight-or-flight response
D)biopsychosocial psychology; psychoneuroimmunology

Question 77

Which of the following substances is a catecholamine?

A)cortisol
B)adrenaline
C)oxytocin
D)placebo

Question 78

When Marcy arrived home she was shocked to see that her house had been burglarized and ransacked. She was terrified that the burglar might still be in the house. It is very probable that Marcy's sympathetic nervous system has stimulated her adrenal medulla to secrete hormones called:

A)corticosteroids.
B)dopamine.
C)catecholamines.
D)serotonin.

Question 79

The person who described the fight-or-flight response, which involves the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system, was:

A)Hans Selye.
B)Robert Ader.
C)Walter Cannon.
D)Janice Kiecolt-Glaser.

Question 80

Mia almost had a car accident. The experience caused her to have a fight-or-flight reaction. Now that the threat has been removed, how long will it take her high level of bodily arousal to subside?

A)10 to 15 minutes
B)20 to 60 minutes
C)1 to 2 days
D)2 to 3 hours