Deck 3: Health and Health Disorders

Question 1

The last few decades have seen advances in identifying genes associated with Alzheimer's disease. Twin studies indicate that genetic factors have a _______ influence on incidence.

A) nonexistent
B) strong
C) mild
D) moderate

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Across the adult years, the month prevalence of most mental disorders increases from young adulthood to middle adulthood and then declines, with the lowest rates being ________________(Kessler, Berglund, Demler, et al., 2005).

A) for teenagers who are between 17-19 years old
B) for young adults who are 20-27 years old
C) for middle age adults who are 45-55 years old
D) for adults who are 60 years of age and older

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The results from older adults' self-reports (surveys) of their health suggest _______.

A) a strong positive correlation between the self-ratings and objective measures of health
B) that almost 75 percent of adults over 65 rate their health as good to excellent
C) that young adults more frequently rate their health as excellent
D) all of the above

Answer 3

D

Question 4

It is estimated that 20 percent of the elderly have pathological levels of anxiety. Which of the following is NOT an anxiety disorder?

A) phobias
B) agoraphobia
C) dysthymic disorder
D) PTSD

Question 5

The probability of dying in any given year is called the _________ rate; the probability of contracting an illness is called the _________ rate.

A) morbidity; mortality
B) prevalence; incidence
C) mortality; morbidity
D) mortality, incidence

Question 6

Bee and Bjorkland report that the adage "to be old is to be sick" is no longer true due to _______.

A) increases in health practices
B) decreases in many diseases
C) increases in sedentary lifestyles
D) both a and b

Question 7

The probability of dying in any given year in the United States is best described as _______.

A) increasing with age, and increasing for females more quickly than males
B) less than 20 percent for males and females over the age of 85
C) 1 percent for adult males aged 15-24
D) greater for females across all age groupings

Question 8

After examining the evidence regarding cardiovascular disease and gender, Bee and Bjorklund conclude that _______.

A) men are twice as likely to die as women in the year following their first heart attack
B) women have a 25 percent chance of dying from breast cancer, compared to a 50 percent chance of dying from heart disease
C) men are twice as apt as females to die of heart disease
D) None of the above statements are conclusions reached by Bee and Bjorklund.

Question 9

Which of the following is the most accurate description of the relationship of atherosclerosis to aging?

A) It is an inevitable part of aging. All adults show some atherosclerotic change, and these changes are irreversible.
B) It is an inevitable part of aging, but early changes are reversible by improvement in health habits.
C) It is a disease occurring only in some adults; all changes due to the disease are curable or reversible.
D) It is a disease occurring only in some adults, but some disease processes are reversible by improvement in health habits.

Question 10

Which of the following would keep a person over 60 from seeking help for a disorder?

A) false stereotypes of aging
B) self-sufficiency
C) a desire to keep problems to him- or herself
D) all of the above

Question 11

Which of the following diseases is the leading cause of death in late adulthood in the United States and other developed countries?

A) cancer
B) accidents
C) heart disease
D) pneumonia

Question 12

Which group of adults shows a pattern of short life expectancy and high rates of chronic illness throughout adulthood?

A) men
B) women
C) the poor
D) the middle class

Question 13

Which of the following is the most common cause of death in adults between ages 24 and 44 in the U.S.?

A) AIDS
B) cancer
C) accidents
D) heart disease

Question 14

Women, when compared to men, _______.

A) contract fatal diseases (such as cancer or heart disease) at about the same average ages as men, but survive longer with such diseases
B) remain in good health much longer, without significant disability or disease
C) have a higher incidence of disabilities, but contract fatal diseases later in life
D) contract fatal diseases at later average ages and have decreased incidences of depression and anxiety

Question 15

The probability of dying in any given year is called the _________ rate; the probability of contracting an illness is called the _________ rate.

A) morbidity; mortality
B) prevalence; incidence
C) mortality; morbidity
D) mortality, incidence

Question 16

Although cancer remains the second leading cause of death for adults in the United States, the type of terminal cancer changes based on age and gender. For example, a 50-year-old female is most likely to die from _____ cancer, a 6year-old male from _____ cancer.

A) lung; breast
B) breast; colon
C) breast; lung
D) colon; lung

Question 17

Given the data from the accompanying "chronic conditions" chart, and the illness and disability information from your text, it is quite possible for Alberta, an African-American 64 year old retired teacher, and her retired friends to have one or more chronic conditions without experiencing significant disability. For Alberta and her friends, like most adults, the crucial issue is not whether they have a chronic condition but _____________________.

A) whether they can have relief from pain
B) whether that condition has an impact on their daily lives
C) if they will live a long and happy life
D) if they can afford medical care

Question 18

Which of the following is the most common cause of death in adults between ages 24 and 44 in the U.S.?

A) AIDS
B) cancer
C) accidents
D) heart disease

Question 19

The term used to describe any significant global deterioration in intellectual abilities in older adults is _______.

A) Alzheimer's disease
B) dementia
C) depression
D) Parkinson's disease

Question 20

Which of the following are the 2 leading causes of death among adults in their 40s and 50s in the U.S.?

A) cancer and AIDS
B) accidents and heart disease
C) heart disease and cancer
D) AIDS and accidents

Question 21

The term used to describe a disease of the arteries in which there is a gradual build-up of calcified, fibrous, and fatty tissue is _______.

A) high blood pressure
B) atherosclerosis
C) cholesterol
D) heart attack

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for heart disease, according to the results of longitudinal studies like the Torpy study?

A) sexually transmitted diseases
B) high blood pressure
C) high cholesterol
D) smoking

Question 23

Dressing yourself, bathing, walking a short distance, using a toilet, and eating without assistance are all examples of what gerontologists call _______.

A) self-help skills
B) activities of daily living
C) grooming skills
D) daily behaviors

Question 24

Research suggests that women are more likely to spend their later years in nursing homes for what significant reason?

A) dementia
B) having few or no children
C) they outlive their spouses
D) physical disability

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT a well-established risk factor for one or more types of cancer?

A) smoking
B) high blood pressure
C) a family history of cancer
D) being overweight

Question 26

Which of the following poor health habits increases a person's risk of both heart disease and cancer?

A) low-fiber diet
B) smoking
C) insufficient sleep
D) skipping breakfast

Question 27

When researchers ask young, middle-aged, and older adults to rate their own health, what age pattern do they find?

A) The percentage who describe their health as excellent or very good declines rapidly with age; by age 65, only a very small number choose such a description.
B) The percentage who describe their health as excellent declines with age, but 2/3 of those over 75 still rate their health as at least good.
C) There is little change with age in the percentage who describe their health as excellent, but a substantial rise among those over 65 who describe their health as poor.
D) Self-rated health remains essentially constant over age, because older adults adjust their standards of "excellent" or "good."

Question 28

What is the age-related pattern of acute and chronic diseases over adulthood?

A) Acute illness declines with age, while chronic illness increases.
B) Chronic illness declines with age, while acute illness increases.
C) Both chronic and acute illness increase with age.
D) Both chronic and acute illness decline with age.

Question 29

Which form of mental health disorder shows the highest prevalence in adulthood?

A) mood disorders
B) anxiety disorders
C) impulse control disorders
D) substance abuse disorders

Question 30

At what median age do adults in the United States show the onset of mood disorders?

A) 10 years of age
B) 15 years of age
C) 20 years of age
D) 30 years of age

Question 31

Women, when compared to men, _______.

A) contract fatal diseases (such as cancer or heart disease) at about the same average ages as men, but survive longer with such diseases
B) remain in good health much longer, without significant disability or disease
C) have a higher incidence of disabilities, but contract fatal diseases later in life
D) contract fatal diseases at later average ages and have decreased incidences of depression and anxiety

Question 32

The term used to describe any significant global deterioration in intellectual abilities in older adults is _______.

A) Alzheimer's disease
B) dementia
C) depression
D) Parkinson's disease

Question 33

Which of the following is the most accurate description of the relationship of atherosclerosis to aging?

A) It is an inevitable part of aging. All adults show some atherosclerotic change, and these changes are irreversible.
B) It is an inevitable part of aging, but early changes are reversible by improvement in health habits.
C) It is a disease occurring only in some adults; all changes due to the disease are curable or reversible.
D) It is a disease occurring only in some adults, but some disease processes are reversible by improvement in health habits.

Question 34

At what median age do adults in the United States show the onset of substance abuse?

A) 20 years of age
B) 30 years of age
C) 40 years of age
D) 50 years of age

Question 35

Alzheimer's disease is one form of _______.

A) dementia
B) depression
C) coronary heart disease
D) immune system breakdown

Question 36

Epidemiological studies suggest that roughly what percentage of adults over age 65 suffer from significant dementia, including Alzheimer's disease?

A) 10 percent
B) 30 percent
C) 40 percent
D) 50 percent

Question 37

Which of the following is the best description of the relationship between older adults and depressive symptoms?

A) genetic predisposition
B) side-effects of numerous medications
C) financial stress
D) the result of the health problems, bereavement, and loss of social contacts that occur more often at that stage of life

Question 38

One major sex difference in health experiences over adulthood is that _______.

A) women have higher rates of nearly all chronic diseases
B) men have higher rates of nearly all chronic diseases
C) when women contract a fatal disease, they die more quickly
D) men report higher rates of daily health problems at all ages

Question 39

Among adults, which ethnic group in the U.S. seems to have the best health?

A) Caucasians
B) African Americans
C) Asian Americans
D) Hispanics

Question 40

Older adults are two to three times more likely to suffer from certain disorders than adults in their 20s and 30s. As such, incidence of several types of illnesses/causes of death rises geometrically (rather than arithmetically) throughout adulthood. Which of these diseases follows such a pattern?

A) heart disease, arthritis, and/or high blood pressure
B) cancer, diabetes, or HIV
C) diabetes, flu and home accidents
D) pneumonia, diabetes, or car accidents

Question 41

What explanations can you offer for the higher rate of suicide among older white men in the U.S.? What kind of research might be helpful to check on the validity of these alternative explanations?

Question 42

Do health practices play more of a role in predicting rate of death than age, gender, or race? If so, discuss how. Use relevant research to back up your claims.

Question 43

Briefly describe why you think there are such marked differences between socio-economic classes in the aging process.

Question 44

Briefly describe the differences between chronic diseases and disabilities.

Question 45

What poor health habit is more common among the poor than among the middle class-a factor that therefore contributes to higher disease rates and shorter life expectancies among the poor?

A) smoking
B) high fat diets
C) insufficient sleep
D) skipping meals

Question 46

A 70-year-old is about _____ times more likely to have cancer than a 1year-old.

A) 100
B) 75
C) 50
D) 20

Question 47

Describe our current information about the relationship between depression and age in adulthood. List and describe what factors make it difficult to draw clear conclusions about this relationship.

Question 48

Which group of adults shows a pattern of short life expectancy and high rates of chronic illness throughout adulthood?

A) men
B) women
C) the poor
D) the middle class

Question 49

Which of the following is NOT one of the good health habits identified as preventive for health disorders and diseases?

A) regular exercise
B) not smoking
C) not drinking
D) regular checkups

Question 50

Briefly list and describe the variety of housing options available to the elderly. Be sure to include the pros and cons of each.

Question 51

We have discussed several problems with using self-report data in experimental design. Describe how self-ratings may influence results in the area of mental health. Include relevant research where applicable.

Question 52

Briefly list the major sex/gender differences in physical and mental health among adults of various ages. What are some possible explanations for these differences?

Question 53

When we say depression does not change much with age, we are talking about _______.

A) only clinical depression
B) only sub-clinical depression
C) all kinds of depression
D) only bipolar depression

Question 54

The DSM-IV defines ten criteria for an individual to be diagnosed with "depression". List five of these criteria.

Question 55

It is estimated that 20 percent of the elderly have pathological levels of anxiety. Which of the following is NOT an anxiety disorder?

A) phobias
B) agoraphobia
C) dysthymic disorder
D) PTSD

Question 56

In the Chapter3, Health and Illness Over the Years, during which age span are most people "aging in place," with death rates increasing and chronic conditions present, but most individuals report having no chronic conditions

A) 20-39
B) 40-64
C) 65-74
D) 75+

Question 57

Picture yourself growing older, and-acknowledging that you will most likely be affected by some sort of age-related disease-choose one from the list of possible suspects. Describe the disease and how it will affect you, and end by describing possible preventative measures you can take to prevent or ward off this disease.

Question 58

Which of the following forms of emotionally disturbed behavior is NOT more common in adult women than adult men?

A) mood disorders
B) anxiety disorders
C) substance abuse
D) schizophrenia

Question 59

Describe how someone could score "depressed" on one measure and not on another.

Question 60

Which of the following diseases or health problems is more common among African Americans than among Caucasians?

A) osteoporosis
B) anorexia
C) AIDS
D) high blood pressure

Question 61

Imagine that you are a psychriatric social worker at a local mental health facility. You will be trying to interpret recent research on depression to a multi-generational family that is living under one roof, and that you are meeting for the first time. The question of whether older adults more than younger adults suffer from depression seems like an easy one, but it is not. Choose at least one causal factor in depression that is different as it manifests in young versus older adults. Sketch out different everyday scenarios so the family may have a better understanding.

Question 62

Picture yourself growing older, and recall the types of mental disorders which can frequently occur in during aging. Now imagine that you are afflicted with one mental disorder. Of those described in our text, choose one and provide a full explanation of how it could affect your daily functioning. End by describing possible measures you can take to avert this mental disorder.

Question 63

You have been asked to be a motivational speaker for a 5000k American Heart Association walk in your town. And there is a lot to cheer on your neighbors. Identify at least three reasons that the rate of cardiovascular disease is declining in the United States, and illustrate your points with generic examples or personal narratives.

Question 64

Compare and contrast two real-life or fictitious adults at age sixty-five in terms of their physical and mental health. In your comparison, what factors account for the differences you portray in your example?

Question 65

Two risk factors appear for cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's diseases: sedentary lifestyle and obesity. When Bjorklund discussed Individual Differences in Health, she covered age-linked patterns for various physical diseases and mental health conditions. Within these age patterns are a variety of individual differences. Select one of the individual differences factors (i.e., gender, socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic differences; personality differences; and even genetic variation) and describe how sedentary lifestyle and obesity figure in each group.