Question 1

The goal of palliative coping is to:

Accepted Answer

The goal of palliative coping is to comfort oneself, usually through self-care or seeking emotional support, without necessarily addressing the root cause of the problem. Options A, B, and D refer to problem-focused coping strategies, which involve addressing the actual problem or changing one's approach to the problem.

Question 2

John is well known and liked by everyone in his residence at school, but all of his friends are just superficial acquaintances. Bill is not as popular as John, but has several very close friends that he can always depend on. John has high _________ , while Bill has high ________

Accepted Answer

John's popularity suggests he has many connections, indicating high structural social support. Bill's close, dependable friendships suggest high functional social support, which involves more personal, emotional, or practical assistance.

Question 3

Recent research has found that increased stress increases

Accepted Answer

The answer of Recent research has found that increased stress...

Question 4

During prolonged periods of stress, which area of the brain is activated?

Accepted Answer

Prolonged periods of stress activate the Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which releases the stress hormone cortisol. This activates the body's "fight or flight" response and can have long-term effects on health if not managed properly. The other options listed are also involved in stress response, but the HPA axis is most directly related to prolonged stress.

Question 5

In a Canadian study by Muller and colleagues, adult survivors of abuse were more likely to receive:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a Canadian study by Muller and...

Question 6

A problem with studies on the link between psychological factors and physical health has been:

Accepted Answer

Individuals with high neuroticism tend to overreport physical symptoms, which can skew study results linking psychological factors to physical health.

Question 7

According to animal research, _________, a hormone known for decreasing activity of the sympathetic nervous system, may be released during social interactions.

Accepted Answer

Oxytocin, also known as the "love hormone," has been shown to decrease activity of the sympathetic nervous system, leading to a decrease in stress levels and an increase in relaxation. Animal research suggests that oxytocin is released during social interactions, particularly positive social interactions such as hugging or bonding moments between individuals. Cortisol and epinephrine are hormones associated with the body's stress response, while serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with mood regulation.

Question 8

Bob suffers from chronic back pain. When the pain becomes overbearing, his brother helps with cleaning, laundry and grocery shopping. This form of support is called

Accepted Answer

Instrumental support involves practical help and assistance with daily living tasks, such as cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping, which is what Bob's brother is providing. Emotional support involves providing empathy, compassion, and expressing care and concern about how the person is feeling. Functional social support and structural social support refer to the broader social networks and resources that individuals may have access to for support.

Question 9

Celeste is known and liked by everyone on campus. Celeste has high

Accepted Answer

Structural social supports refer to the extent and quality of social connections and networks, which aligns with being known and liked by many people.

Question 10

A person engaged in palliative coping is primarily focused on:

Accepted Answer

Palliative coping involves focusing on emotional regulation and soothing oneself, rather than attempting to solve the problem or avoid it. Ruminating and obsessing about the problem is not part of this coping style.

Question 11

Social support is posited to exert beneficial effects on mental health through various means. Which of the following is not one of the pathways through which social support likely exerts its effects?

Accepted Answer

Social support is not likely to exert its effects through personality vulnerability factors, as these factors are considered independent of social support. Support can impact mental health through biological processes, such as reducing stress hormones; health behaviors, such as encouraging individuals to adopt healthy lifestyles; and emotions, such as providing a sense of belonging and reducing feelings of isolation.

Question 12

From an objective standpoint, Hilda and Edith have the same number of close friends. However, only Hilda feels that she can call on them in time of need, whereas Edith does not feel this way. What could be concluded, on the basis of this information alone, regarding Hilda and Edith?

Accepted Answer

Hilda's perception of having close friends who can be relied upon in times of need may contribute to better overall health and well-being, as social support has been shown to have positive effects on recovery from illness. Edith, on the other hand, may be missing out on this potential benefit from her friendships.

Question 13

A review by Gregory Miller and colleagues from the University of British Columbia found that several factors must be taken into account to explain why studies show both increases and decreases in HPA axis activity. One of these factors is:

Accepted Answer

The time elapsed following a stressor is an important factor in explaining the mixed findings regarding HPA axis activity. Different studies may have measured HPA axis activity at different points in time following a stressor, leading to varying results.

Question 14

Imagine a study found that people who experience a great deal of stress report more frequent minor symptoms of illness. However, objective monitoring of their illness symptoms indicates no difference between high and low stress groups. This is an example of what problem?

Accepted Answer

This problem is related to the measurement of the dependent variable. The self-reported minor symptoms of illness may not represent an accurate measurement of actual illness, while objective monitoring provides a more accurate assessment. This suggests that the self-reported symptoms may be influenced by factors beyond stress, such as perception or interpretation biases.

Question 15

Palliative and instrumental coping are subscales that are assessed by which of the following instruments?

Accepted Answer

The "Coping with Health Injuries and Problems" instrument includes subscales for palliative and instrumental coping.

Question 16

Endler and Parker's Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations is an instrument which measures:

Accepted Answer

Endler and Parker's Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations measures stable dispositional aspects of coping. It assesses an individual's usual coping responses to stressful situations, rather than their responses in a specific moment or situation.

Question 17

Under the same amount of stress, Paloma developed an ulcer but Hank developed asthma. This difference occurred because Paloma's gastrointestinal system was predisposed to illness, whereas Hank's respiratory system was most vulnerable. This explanation is offered by which theory?

Accepted Answer

The somatic-weakness theory suggests that individuals have predisposed weaknesses in certain bodily systems that, under stress, become the sites of illness. In this scenario, Paloma's predisposition was in her gastrointestinal system, leading to an ulcer, and Hank's was in his respiratory system, leading to asthma, which aligns with the somatic-weakness theory's explanation.

Question 18

William tends to react to stress by increased heart rate. Harold responds to stress with gastrointestinal distress. After a period of stress, William developed hypertension, and following the same stressful period, Harold developed an ulcer. What theory would explain this difference well?

Accepted Answer

The specific-reaction theory proposes that individuals react to stress in different ways, based on their biological makeup and personal experiences. William and Harold exhibit different physical reactions to stress (increased heart rate vs. gastrointestinal distress), and their long-term health outcomes also differ (hypertension vs. ulcer). This suggests that their bodies have unique ways of processing and responding to stress, which aligns with the specific-reaction theory.

Question 19

Individuals with elaborate social networks are more likely to develop

Accepted Answer

Individuals with elaborate social networks often have better stress management due to social support, which can mitigate the effects of stress on health, reducing the likelihood of developing stress-related conditions like essential hypertension or coronary heart disease.

Question 20

Alesha is prone to becoming nauseous. She begins working at a high-stress job, and develops an ulcer. What theory best explains her reaction to stress?

Accepted Answer

The somatic-weakness theory suggests that individuals have specific areas in their body that are weaker and more prone to illness when they are under stress. In Alesha's case, her predisposition to becoming nauseous and developing an ulcer under high stress aligns with this theory, as it indicates a specific bodily weakness that becomes symptomatic under stress.

Quiz 9: Stress-Related Disorders and Health Psychology