Question 1

Scarcity and enhancement are two competing hypotheses regarding women and:

Accepted Answer

Scarcity and enhancement are theories related to role overload, which refers to the feeling of having too many responsibilities to effectively manage. Scarcity theory suggests that women have limited resources, including time and energy, and therefore struggle with role overload. Enhancement theory, on the other hand, suggests that women gain a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction from their multiple roles. Neither scarcity nor enhancement are directly related to burnout, acculturation stress, or cognitive appraisal.

Question 2

Residents living near New York City after the 9/11 attacks:

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that residents living near New York City after the 9/11 attacks were more likely to report health problems following the attack due to exposure to air pollution, psychological distress, and other factors.

Question 3

Utilizing the issue of role overload in working women as an exemplar, identify and discuss at least three sources of job stress and how they have the potential to adversely impact the lives of individuals.

Accepted Answer

Role overload in working women can be a significant source of job stress, leading to adverse impacts on their lives. Three sources of job stress that contribute to role overload in working women include:

1. High Workload: Working women often face high workloads, with multiple responsibilities and tasks to manage. This can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed and unable to meet all the demands placed on them. The pressure to perform at a high level while juggling various tasks can lead to increased stress and anxiety.

2. Lack of Control: Another source of job stress for working women is the lack of control over their work environment and schedule. This can include limited autonomy in decision-making, inflexible work hours, and a lack of support for work-life balance. Without the ability to control their work environment, women may feel trapped and unable to effectively manage their responsibilities, leading to increased stress and feelings of being out of control.

3. Role Conflict: Working women often face role conflict, where the demands of their job conflict with their personal or family responsibilities. This can create a constant struggle to balance work and home life, leading to feelings of guilt, frustration, and stress. The inability to effectively manage these conflicting roles can have a detrimental impact on their mental and physical well-being.

These sources of job stress have the potential to adversely impact the lives of individuals in various ways. Chronic stress can lead to physical health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and weakened immune system. It can also contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and burnout. Additionally, job stress can strain personal relationships and lead to decreased job satisfaction and overall quality of life. Therefore, it is important for organizations to address these sources of job stress and provide support for working women to effectively manage their roles and responsibilities.

Question 4

In terms of predicting a person's overall psychological well-being, research studies have shown that:

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that everyday hassles, due to their frequency and persistence, can have a more significant impact on a person's psychological well-being and health than major life events, which are less frequent.

Question 5

The Social Readjustment Rating Scale has been criticized for all these reasons EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The Social Readjustment Rating Scale has been criticized for its vagueness, failure to consider individual differences, and failure to differentiate between resolved and unresolved events. However, it does not separate positive and negative events more than similar measures, making choice D incorrect.

Question 6

According to the text, stress is best defined as:

Accepted Answer

The definition given in option C aligns with the generally accepted definition of stress. It involves both perception and response to events that are perceived as harmful, threatening, or challenging. Option A refers to the trigger for stress, Option B refers to the reaction to stress, and Option D refers to the cognitive appraisal of stress, which is only one part of the overall stress response.

Question 7

Compare and contrast the transactional model of stress and the diathesis-stress model, paying particular attention to social, biological, and psychological factors that may influence the experience or manifestation of the stress response.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the transactional model of...

Question 8

Research studies of role overload in women have generally concluded that what matters most is:

Accepted Answer

Research studies have shown that it is not just the number of roles a woman occupies, but also the quality of her experience in each role that contributes to role overload. Women who feel satisfied and valued in their roles are less likely to experience overload, while those who feel unsupported or unappreciated are more likely to feel overwhelmed. Social support is also important, but it is not the only factor that determines whether a woman experiences role overload. Educational attainment may be a factor as well, but research has not consistently shown a strong correlation between education and role overload.

Question 9

The effects of stress are most deleterious when the stressor is:

Accepted Answer

Unpredictable stressors are more harmful because they trigger a constant state of alertness and make it impossible for the body to fully relax and recover. Anticipated stressors can be prepared for, and intense stressors may only last for a short period of time. Negative stressors are not necessarily more harmful than positive stressors, as some positive events (such as a promotion or getting married) can also be stressful.

Question 10

Using a specific example, clearly give details that could illustrate unquestionable evidence for a relationship between stress and physical illness.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Using a specific example, clearly give details...

Question 11

Ron is so afraid that his job performance will be evaluated negatively, he feels considerable stress driving to work each day. Ron's fear is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Social-evaluative threat refers to the fear of being evaluated negatively by others, which can cause significant stress and anxiety. This is a common experience in many work and social situations, and can be a major source of stress for individuals. Learned helplessness, employee disengagement, and stereotype threat are all related but distinct concepts that do not fit Ron's situation as well as social-evaluative threat.

Question 12

Explain how perceived personal control may, in certain circumstances, influence individual and group responses, including responses to the stress of crowding, noise, and job-related stress.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain how perceived personal control may, in...

Question 13

Critics of research surveys of the impact of daily hassles argue that some of the items listed as hassles are:

Accepted Answer

Some critics argue that items listed as daily hassles may actually be symptoms of stress rather than causes, making it difficult to determine the direction of the relationship between stress and these hassles.

Question 14

An employment setting in which workers have regular opportunities to do what they do best and they perceive that they are part of something significant is one that promotes:

Accepted Answer

The employment setting described in the question is one that promotes employee engagement, as workers have the opportunity to do what they do best and feel they are part of something significant. Employee engagement refers to the level of involvement, commitment, and enthusiasm an employee feels towards their job and the organization they work for.

Question 15

Burnout results from stress that normally accompanies:

Accepted Answer

Burnout typically results from chronic workplace stress, often caused by jobs in fields that require caring for others, such as healthcare, social work, or education. While personal losses like the loss of a friend or divorce can also be stressful, they do not typically result in burnout. Mind-numbing manufacturing jobs may be stressful, but they are not generally associated with burnout.

Question 16

For minority populations, daily hassles compounded by perceived discrimination have been linked with a marked increase in ______ in that population.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that discrimination, combined with daily stressors, can lead to increased levels of hypertension among minority populations. This is likely due to the physiological response to stress, which can elevate blood pressure and increase the risk for cardiovascular disease.

Question 17

The correlation between scores on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale and measures of illness has generally been found to be:

Accepted Answer

The correlation between scores on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale and measures of illness has been found to be relatively weak. While there is some evidence for a relationship between stress and illness, this particular measure has been criticized for its limitations in assessing stress and for its inability to account for individual differences in coping and resilience. Therefore, it is not a strong or reliable predictor of illness.

Question 18

Describe in detail the specific physiological hallmarks and signs of the stress response attributed to the sympatho-adreno-medullary (SAM) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) systems.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe in detail the specific physiological hallmarks...

Question 19

Regarding the question of whether having a job as well as a home and family enhances or threatens a woman's health, researchers have generally found that:

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that individuals (both women and men) who balance vocational, marital, and parental roles tend to be healthier and happier than those who only function in one or two of these roles. This is because having a sense of purpose, social support, and a balance of responsibilities can contribute to greater overall well-being. While some studies have reported that women in particular may report more health complaints due to the added stress and demands of juggling multiple roles, the overall consensus is that the benefits of having a multifaceted life outweigh the potential drawbacks.

Question 20

Stressors are:

Accepted Answer

Stressors are defined as demanding events or situations that trigger coping adjustments in a person. While stressors can cause physiological responses such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, this is not the defining characteristic of a stressor. Stressors can also be positive events, such as a job promotion, that still require coping adjustments.

Quiz 4: Stress