Deck 12: Stress, Coping, and Health

Question 1

After identifying a stressor, we must decide how we will deal with it and what resources are available for coping with the stressor. This decision is called

A) primary appraisal.
B) secondary appraisal.
C) stress-related decision making.
D) hassle-related decision-making.

Answer 1

secondary appraisal.

Question 2

Mary just received a traffic ticket but decided it is not worth being upset about. Mary just made a

A) primary appraisal.
B) secondary appraisal.
C) stress-related decision.
D) hassle-related decision.

Answer 2

primary appraisal.

Question 3

Imagine that you have just failed a class. You evaluate this situation and decide that failing a class is stressful and important enough to be upset about. Next you decide to repeat the class in summer school. You have made

A) both a primary appraisal and a secondary appraisal.
B) a primary appraisal only.
C) a stress-related decision.
D) a hassle-related decision.

Answer 3

both a primary appraisal and a secondary appraisal.

Question 4

According to Lazarus, our first task when faced with a potential stressor is to estimate its severity and to determine whether it is a challenge or threat. This evaluation is referred to as

A) primary appraisal.
B) secondary appraisal.
C) stress-related decision.
D) hassle-related decision.

Question 5

When encountering a potentially threatening event, people first decide whether the event is harmful; this is known as ________. Then, a ________ is made about how well one can cope with that event.

A) primary appraisal; secondary appraisal
B) secondary appraisal; primary appraisal
C) initial appraisal; general appraisal
D) general appraisal; initial appraisal

Question 6

Kim assumes that people tend to 'fall apart' during times of high stress, and that trauma will definitely ruin someone's life. Which of the following is consistent with Kim's belief?

A) the diathesis-stress model
B) the coping-appraisal hypothesis
C) emotion-focused coping
D) the clinician's illusion

Question 7

Which of the following is consistent with problem-focused coping?

A) Westin cries uncontrollably to comfort himself.
B) Andrew believes he is unable to deal with the stressful event.
C) Eric faces the challenges of life head-on.
D) Joe places a positive spin on his feelings and situation.

Question 8

Research suggests that stress-producing events are

A) less likely to affect residents of rural areas or nonindustrialized countries.
B) more likely to affect people living in urban areas and developed countries.
C) widespread among all sectors of society.
D) rare and only affect a small portion of the population.

Question 9

What term describes the tension, discomfort, or physical symptoms that arise when a situation strains our ability to cope effectively?

A) anxiety
B) stimulus
C) stress
D) trauma

Question 10

Research on the prevalence of stress in the general population has found that

A) severe stressors effect less than 25 percent of the population.
B) immigrant and minority groups report lower levels of extreme stressors.
C) extreme stress is reported only by people of low socioeconomic status.
D) a majority of people have experienced severe stress in their lifetime.

Question 11

Jaime applied to several law schools but was not accepted at any of them. He says that he is actually relieved-he really didn't want to be a lawyer anyway. Jaime appears to be engaging in __________ coping.

A) stress-centred
B) rationally-focused
C) problem-focused
D) emotion-focused

Question 12

According to the 'stressors as stimuli' model, which of the following is the cause of stress?

A) Our underlying vulnerabilities.
B) The events we experience.
C) Our interpretation of events.
D) The physiological reactions we experience.

Question 13

According to the 'stress as transaction' model, which of the following is the cause of stress?

A) Our underlying vulnerabilities.
B) The events we experience.
C) Our interpretation of events.
D) The physiological reactions we experience.

Question 14

Events that cause a stress reaction are referred to as

A) distressors.
B) eustressors.
C) stressors.
D) hassles.

Question 15

Which of the following represents the three main ways that researchers have approached 'stress' as a topic of study?

A) a stimulus, a transaction, and a response.
B) a fear, an attack, and a rage.
C) a response, an apprehension, and a stimulus.
D) a stimulus, uneasiness, and a response.

Question 16

What term is used to describe the physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioural responses to events that are threatening or challenging?

A) burnout
B) distress
C) eustress
D) stress

Question 17

A stressor that is so severe that it produces long-term psychological or health consequences is considered ____________.

A) a hassle
B) a primary appraisal
C) stressful
D) traumatic

Question 18

Working a second job to pay off credit cards is an example of

A) reappraisal.
B) distraction.
C) problem-focused coping.
D) emotion-focused coping.

Question 19

The tendency to overestimate people's fragility and underestimate their resilience is known as

A) primary appraisal.
B) clinician's illusion.
C) general adaptation syndrome.
D) universality.

Question 20

Which of the following stressors is likely to increase feelings of social awareness, and strengthen social bonds?

A) pregnancy
B) end of a long-term relationship
C) a hurricane that damages a whole city
D) worry about a medical diagnosis

Question 21

An emotion-focused coping strategy is one that

A) eliminates the source of the stress.
B) doesn't alter emotion but changes the stressor.
C) alters feelings but does not change the source of stress.
D) identifies and then modifies the source of the stress.

Question 22

Sven has developed a method for coping with his test anxiety in his university courses. His next step in his problem-focused coping strategy is to

A) implement the plan.
B) identify the stressor.
C) evaluate the success of the implemented plan
D) discuss the nature of the stressors with others.

Question 23

For researchers using the 'stress as response' model, which of the following is the primary focus?

A) Our underlying vulnerabilities.
B) The events we experience.
C) Our interpretation of events.
D) Our physical and emotional reactions.

Question 24

Edgar is learning deep-breathing techniques to reduce his anxiety about public speaking. This is an example of

A) reappraisal.
B) problem-focused coping.
C) emotion-focused coping.
D) avoidance.

Question 25

The Social Readjustment Rating Scale is used to estimate

A) the physiological effects of stress on a person.
B) how much stress a person has experienced.
C) how well we adapt to changing life circumstances.
D) the accuracy of the general adaptation syndrome.

Question 26

Jessica begins to pray daily following the loss of her close friend, and praying helps her feel better. In this situation, praying is an example of ________ coping.

A) stress-centred
B) rationally-focused
C) problem-focused
D) emotion-focused

Question 27

Corticosteroids are stress hormones that

A) stimulate nervous breakdowns.
B) activate the body and prepare it for stressful circumstances.
C) interfere with the body's ability to function during stressful events.
D) calm the body when facing a stressful situation.

Question 28

Preet does yoga to manage her stress associated with work, and to deal with stress about school she focuses on good study habits and being very organized. In this example, Preet uses ____________ coping for work stress and ___________ coping for school stress.

A) task-oriented; defence-oriented
B) physical; emotional
C) behavioural; psychoanalytic
D) emotion-focused; problem-focused

Question 29

Julien just found out that his grandmother passed away. While he is very sad and upset that he didn't get to see her before she passed away, he recognizes that there was nothing he would have been able to do for his grandmother and that she lived a full and happy life. Which of the following best represents Julien's behaviour?

A) A primary appraisal of his situation
B) Emotion-focused coping
C) Problem-focused coping
D) Social readjustment

Question 30

A coping strategy that involves a set of specific steps for identifying the stressor, choosing a method of stress reduction, implementing the method and evaluating its success is a(n) __________ strategy.

A) stress-centred
B) rationally focused
C) problem-focused
D) emotion-focused

Question 31

Controllable stressors are best suited to _____________ coping, whereas uncontrollable stressors are best suited to _____________ coping.

A) behavioural; psychoanalytic
B) psychoanalytic; behavioural
C) problem-focused; emotion-focused.
D) emotion-focused; problem-focused

Question 32

After losing his job, Marlon went to the unemployment office to look at the job boards and sent his resume to all of the jobs that matched his skills. Which of the following best represents Marlon's behaviour?

A) A primary appraisal of his situation
B) Emotion-focused coping
C) Problem-focused coping
D) Social readjustment

Question 33

When we are stressed, our body responds physiologically by increasing our heart rate, blood pressure, and the release of stress hormones called _______________.

A) androgens
B) glucagons
C) endorphins
D) corticosteroids

Question 34

An assessment that measures the amount of stress in a person's life resulting from major life events over one year is called the

A) secondary appraisal.
B) primary appraisal.
C) Social Readjustment Rating Scale.
D) College Undergraduate Stress Scale.

Question 35

Marlena's counsellor has helped her identify the specific stressors that are causing the most stress in her life, and is helping her develop a set of strategies she can use to reduce the stress she feels. The counsellor is promoting which type of coping strategy?

A) stress-centred
B) rationally focused
C) problem-focused
D) emotion-focused

Question 36

Adi is studying the biological foundations of stress reactions. Which of the following would be of most interest to Adi?

A) leptin
B) corticosteroids
C) androgens
D) prolactin

Question 37

Which of the following is an example of emotion-focused coping?

A) Planning an escape route.
B) Rehearsing your speech until it is memorized.
C) Learning some deep-breathing techniques.
D) Calling in sick to avoid your stressor.

Question 38

Vanna's mother is ill, and Vanna is feeling overwhelmed and sad. To cope with this stress, Vanna has been writing her feelings down in a journal. Vanna is using ___________.

A) distraction
B) problem-focused coping
C) emotion-focused coping
D) reappraisal

Question 39

A coping strategy that features a positive outlook on feelings or situations accompanied by behaviours that reduce painful emotions is called __________ coping.

A) stress-centred
B) rationally-focused
C) problem-focused
D) emotion-focused

Question 40

________ are stress hormones that activate the body and prepare us to respond to stressful circumstances.

A) Androgens
B) Corticosteroids
C) Endorphins
D) Leptins

Question 41

A person in the _________________ stage of the general adaptation syndrome may feel better even though he or she continues to secrete hormones to help the body fight a stressor.

A) alarm
B) resistance
C) termination
D) exhaustion

Question 42

The term hassles refers to

A) minor health problems that cause a person to miss at least one day of work.
B) minor annoyances of everyday life.
C) the necessity to interact with persons we dislike in order to obtain our goals.
D) personal limitations that make it impossible for someone to pursue a desired goal.

Question 43

Adelaide hears a hissing sound as she hikes through the desert. Her muscles tense and her blood pressure rises. According to Hans Selye, she is in which stage of the general adaptation syndrome?

A) flight phase.
B) alarm phase.
C) exhaustion phase.
D) resistance phase.

Question 44

Researchers have found an association between daily hassles and

A) cancer.
B) poor general health.
C) Type A personality.
D) schizophrenia.

Question 45

Selye's description of how people react to stressors is

A) problem-focused coping.
B) the general adaptation syndrome.
C) primary appraisal.
D) catharsis.

Question 46

One criticism of the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) is that

A) it measures both positive and negative life events, which should cancel each other out.
B) it ignores that some stress may be a consequence of psychological problems, rather than a cause.
C) the number of stressful life events one experiences does not at all predict physical or psychological ailments.
D) it is gender biased.

Question 47

What is the theoretical basis for Selye's concept of the General Adaptation Syndrome?

A) That stress levels are primarily determined by the number of stressful events we experience.
B) That prolonged stress has a damaging physiological effect on our bodies.
C) That our interpretations of events are key for determining our reactions.
D) That some people are more vulnerable to stress than others.

Question 48

Which of the following represents the theoretical basis for the Social Readjustment Rating Scale?

A) Our interpretation of events is critical to our experience of stress.
B) Some people are more vulnerable to stress than others.
C) Stress results from the physiological symptoms of arousal.
D) The number and intensity of stressors determines how we feel.

Question 49

Which of the following is the best predictor of physical health, depression, and anxiety?

A) The frequency and perceived severity of hassles
B) The types of major life events experienced
C) The number of negative major life events experienced
D) The proportion of hassles to major life events

Question 50

What is the correct sequence of stages in the general adaptation syndrome?

A) Resistance, alarm, exhaustion
B) Alarm, exhaustion, resistance
C) Alarm, resistance, exhaustion
D) Resistance, exhaustion, alarm

Question 51

Increases in adrenalin, blood pressure, and anxiety are associated with the

A) fight-or-flight response.
B) tend-and-befriend response.
C) catharsis response.
D) exhaustion response.

Question 52

Burning your toast, having trouble opening an email attachment, breaking a glass, and running late for an appointment are all examples of

A) downturns.
B) hassles.
C) eustress.
D) distress.

Question 53

Holmes and Rahe developed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) to estimate stress levels caused by

A) natural disasters.
B) major life events.
C) social difficulties.
D) negative life events.

Question 54

Jenna was relieved when her marriage ended. Ali was overwhelmed and depressed after her marriage ended. According to the Social Readjustment Rating Scale, how would these two different life events be recorded?

A) Jenna would have a positive score, and Ali would have a negative score.
B) Jenna would have a negative score, and Ali would have a positive score.
C) Only Ali's score would be affected by her divorce.
D) Both divorces would be recorded as the same type of stressor.

Question 55

Selye's general adaptation syndrome describes

A) how we modify our situation to reduce stress.
B) the social and cultural factors affecting stress.
C) the types of situations we find most stressful.
D) how people react when exposed to stressors.

Question 56

If someone is exposed to a prolonged and inescapable stressor that exceeds the person's ability to cope, that person will move into which stage of Selye's general adaptation syndrome?

A) Collapse
B) Exhaustion
C) Alarm
D) Resistance

Question 57

What is the main purpose of the alarm stage of the general adaptation syndrome?

A) to evaluate whether you have appropriate resources to deal with a threat
B) to energize us in preparation for dealing with a threat
C) to keep us calm when our environments are unpredictable
D) to recover from a threat that has passed

Question 58

The alarm reaction stage of the general adaptation syndrome is most commonly associated with the release of which hormone?

A) testosterone
B) adrenalin
C) oxytocin
D) leptin

Question 59

The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) measures stress related to

A) positive and negative life events.
B) trauma.
C) internal vulnerability.
D) physiological symptoms.

Question 60

During the alarm stage of the general adaptation syndrome, which of the following brain regions will be more active than usual?

A) prefrontal cortex.
B) the parasympathetic nervous system.
C) the limbic system.
D) association cortex.

Question 61

When stressed, research has found that women tend to __________________ more often than men.

A) fight
B) flee
C) reach exhaustion
D) tend and befriend

Question 62

Hans Selye distinguished between distress and eustress. What are the consequences of eustress?

A) exhaustion
B) fight or flight reactions
C) personal growth
D) tend and befriend reactions

Question 63

What term is used to describe events that are challenging but not overwhelming, like competing in a game or working hard toward achievements at school?

A) catharsis
B) antistress
C) hardiness
D) eustress

Question 64

The most common long-term response to traumatic events is

A) anxiety.
B) resilience.
C) depression.
D) PTSD.

Question 65

In which stage of the general adaptation syndrome has the body reached the limits of its ability to adapt to stress, and becomes vulnerable to stress-related diseases?

A) Collapse
B) Alarm
C) Exhaustion
D) Resistance

Question 66

Which of the following events produce the highest risk of developing PTSD?

A) Major natural disasters
B) Vehicle accidents
C) Workplace accidents
D) Combat experiences

Question 67

According to evolutionary theories about the tend-and-befriend response, why is there a gender difference in this particular stress reaction?

A) Women benefit more from building social networks, rather than fighting, when under threat
B) Because women lack key components of the fight-or-flight response, they compensate with the tend-and-befriend response.
C) The tend-and-befriend response is mediated by testosterone levels.
D) The general adaptation syndrome is dependent upon cortisol, which is lower in women.

Question 68

Amanda signed up with the army right after she graduated from high school. She was soon sent to Afghanistan. During her two years in Afghanistan, she witnessed many gruesome catastrophes. Upon returning home, she felt detached and estranged from her old friends, was easily startled, and had difficulties sleeping due to the vivid memories of the horrific events. Amanda displays the symptoms of

A) flashbacks.
B) general adaptation syndrome.
C) posttraumatic stress disorder.
D) anxiety.

Question 69

Ali, a war veteran, has had nightmares, flashbacks, and anxiety attacks for the past three years. Ali is most likely suffering from

A) posttraumatic stress disorder.
B) acute stress disorder.
C) eustress disorder.
D) general adaptation syndrome.

Question 70

Research with military personnel has found that _______________ predicted stress levels, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

A) the absolute severity of traumatic events
B) the number of traumatic events, and lack of social support
C) use of emotion-focused rather than problem-focused coping
D) engaging in substance abuse in order to cope with trauma

Question 71

What term is used to describe invading bacteria, viruses, and other organisms that cause illness?

A) lymphocytes.
B) pathogens.
C) phagocytes.
D) antigens.

Question 72

Jamie has worked for a law firm for the past five years. The firm is in the process of downsizing and laying off employees. Jamie is afraid that she may lose her job. To help deal with this stressful situation, Jamie spends time talking to her friends for support, and she and some coworkers are helping each other to update their resumes. This is known as

A) catharsis.
B) fight or flight.
C) primary appraisal.
D) tend and befriend.

Question 73

According to Hans Selye, our ability to cope with stress is lowest at the _____________ stage of the general adaptation syndrome.

A) alarm
B) resistance
C) exhaustion
D) collapse

Question 74

What hormone helps to counter stress and promotes the tend-and-befriend response?

A) Cortisol
B) Oxytocin
C) Adrenalin
D) Serotonin

Question 75

The purpose of the ________ is to protect the body against the invasion of bacteria, viruses, or other illness-producing organisms.

A) immune system
B) phagocytes
C) antigens
D) lymphocytes

Question 76

For the past six months, Dahlia's job has been extremely stressful, but she doesn't feel that she can quit because she needs the money for tuition. Dahlia has been having chronic headaches and is behind in all of her classes. According to Hans Selye, Dahlia is in the ______ stage of the general adaptation syndrome.

A) collapse
B) alarm
C) exhaustion
D) resistance

Question 77

The body's first shield from disease-producing organisms is

A) an antigen.
B) a white blood cell.
C) our skin.
D) a pathogen.

Question 78

Which of the following is associated with resilience after experiencing a traumatic event or serious stressor?

A) High level of functioning prior to the event.
B) Being male.
C) Association with a military or police force.
D) Being an adult.

Question 79

According to Selye, some people may develop illnesses such as high blood pressure or a weakened immune system during the ______ stage of the general adaptation syndrome.

A) collapse
B) alarm
C) exhaustion
D) resistance

Question 80

A disorder resulting from exposure to a major stressor, with symptoms of anxiety, nightmares, poor sleep, reliving the event, and concentration problems, lasting for more than one month is called

A) posttraumatic stress disorder.
B) acute stress disorder.
C) eustress disorder.
D) general adaptation syndrome.