Deck 15: Health Psychology

Question 1

In the context of gender differences in coping with stress, which of the following comparisons is correct?

A) Women are less likely than men to seek support from others in times of stress.
B) Women tend to have larger social networks than men, including friends and extended family members.
C) Women are less likely than men to share personal issues and concerns with friends and family members.
D) Women have less opportunity than men to benefit from the positive health effects of social support.

Answer 1

Women tend to have larger social networks than men, including friends and extended family members.

Question 2

When a stressor is chronic and a person or animal cannot fight it or flee from it, then the chronic physiological arousal that results can be severely damaging to the body. What is this condition known as?

A) Atherosclerosis
B) Narcolepsy
C) Allostatic load
D) Degeneration

Answer 2

Allostatic load

Question 3

_____ is a personality trait characterized by hyperreactivity to stress and poor coping skills.

A) Extraversion
B) Neuroticism
C) Psychoticism
D) Introversion

Answer 3

Neuroticism

Question 4

Compared to Asians and Asian Americans, European Americans benefit more from:

A) implicit forms of seeking social support.
B) avoiding any form of social support.
C) explicit forms of seeking social support.
D) being less vocal about their personal concerns.

Question 5

According to studies, which of the following is generally true of pessimistic people?

A) They tend to have lower blood pressure levels than optimistic people.
B) They see negative events as their fault.
C) They are healthier than optimistic people.
D) They have healthier immune system than optimistic people.

Question 6

In the context of gender responses to stress, which of the following observations is true?

A) Men are more emotionally, cognitively, and physiologically reactive than women to marital conflict.
B) Men are more emotionally attuned to their partners and more conscious of conflict in their relationships.
C) Women are more physiologically reactive to marital conflict.
D) Women can benefit physiologically from being in a close relationship, even if that relationship is a negative one.

Question 7

Which of the following is the social/environmental factor most often studied by health psychologists?

A) Genetics
B) Smoking
C) Exercise
D) Stress

Question 8

When the fight-or-flight response is caused by an immediate stressor, the response is useful and then subsides. This adaptation is called:

A) hemostasis.
B) allostasis.
C) homeostasis.
D) modulation.

Question 9

Which of the following is a positive coping strategy?

A) Avoidance coping
B) Highlighting trivial issues
C) Suppressing negative emotions
D) Seeking social support

Question 10

Health psychology is also referred to as:

A) salutary medicine.
B) developmental psychology.
C) behavioral medicine.
D) clinical psychology.

Question 11

Who is credited with discovering that there is a physiological basis for the ancient theory that laughter is good medicine?

A) Norman Cousins
B) John Watson
C) Erik Erikson
D) Sigmund Freud

Question 12

Which of the following is a key factor that makes some circumstances more stressful than others?

A) Uncontrollability
B) Recognition
C) Time of day
D) Denial

Question 13

Which of the following is one of the top five leading causes of death in the twenty-first century?

A) Influenza
B) Tuberculosis
C) Pneumonia
D) Cancer

Question 14

____ involves denying that you are ill or are facing other obvious stresses.

A) Flight response
B) Denial coping
C) Relaxation response
D) Avoidance coping

Question 15

Why do people from Asian cultures tend to be more reluctant than European Americans to reach out to others for social support or to express their personal concerns?

A) They are concerned about potential harm to their relationships if they do so.
B) These cultures are more collectivistic in nature.
C) These cultures tend to look down upon those individuals who cannot manage their own affairs efficiently.
D) They are concerned that others will no longer confide in them.

Question 16

The _____ system defends against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells.

A) circulatory
B) endocrine
C) nervous
D) immune

Question 17

Because of _____, the body learns how to react more efficiently to stress when it comes and goes, is not severe, and does not persist for long periods of time.

A) allostasis
B) modulation
C) homeostasis
D) hemostasis

Question 18

Which of the following was one of the top five leading causes of death in the early part of the twentieth century?

A) HIV
B) Tuberculosis
C) Cancer
D) Chronic lower respiratory diseases

Question 19

Studies of Asians and Asian Americans find that they derive more emotional and physiological benefit from their social network by:

A) explicitly asking others for support.
B) revealing their personal concerns to other members of the network.
C) using more implicit forms of seeking social support.
D) solving problems experienced by other members of the network.

Question 20

Avoidance coping has been linked to:

A) compromised recovery of function following surgical procedures.
B) greater adherence to medical regimes.
C) improved health in HIV-positive individuals.
D) less risky behaviors in HIV-positive intravenous drug users.

Question 21

Since 1990, more people have died from _____ than from any other cause.

A) cancer
B) tuberculosis
C) AIDS
D) coronary heart disease

Question 22

Which of the following statements about coronary heart disease (CHD) is true?

A) Women are more prone to CHD than are men.
B) CHD is the leading cause of death among men and women.
C) People with family histories of CHD are at increased risk for the disease.
D) There is no relation between a stressful environment and CHD.

Question 23

The _____ immune system reacts quickly and nonspecifically to any microorganism or toxin that enters the body.

A) intrinsic
B) specific
C) innate
D) native

Question 24

Which of the following observations is true of immune systems?

A) The innate immune system is slower to respond than the specific immune system.
B) The response of the specific immune system is tailored to the particular type of pathogen present.
C) The innate immune system remembers a pathogen so that if it attacks again the system is able to kill it more quickly and efficiently.
D) The innate immune system reacts specifically to the microorganism that enters the body.

Question 25

What are the two branches of the human immune system?

A) The innate immune system and the specific immune system.
B) The intrinsic immune system and the extrinsic immune system.
C) The native immune system and the acquired immune system.
D) The benign immune system and the pathological immune system.

Question 26

People in high-stress jobs are at increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD), particularly if their jobs are:

A) highly demanding but provide them little control.
B) high paying but less glamorous.
C) rarely appreciated by others in society.
D) low paying but meaningful.

Question 27

Which of the following has been observed to improve the health of cancer patients?

A) Reduced stress levels
B) Avoiding social support
C) Reduced quality of life
D) Increased levels of pessimism

Question 28

Myocardial infarction is commonly known as:

A) hypercholesterolemia.
B) heart attack.
C) coronary artery disease.
D) congenital heart disease.

Question 29

All of the following are components of the Type A pattern as originally formulated, EXCEPT:

A) a sense of time urgency.
B) easily aroused hostility.
C) predictability of reactions.
D) competitive striving for achievement.

Question 30

_____ appear to suppress the virus in those infected with HIV and to slow the development of AIDS.

A) Antidepressants
B) Benzodiazepines
C) Antiretroviral drugs
D) Antihistamines

Question 31

The personality factor traditionally linked to coronary heart disease is the _____ behavior pattern.

A) Type A
B) Type X
C) Type B
D) Type Y

Question 32

Which is the most common disease in which the immune system plays a role?

A) Malaria
B) Cancer
C) Common cold
D) Viral fever

Question 33

_____ is a condition in which blood flows through vessels with excessive force, putting pressure on vessel walls.

A) Low blood pressure
B) Atherosclerosis
C) Hypertension
D) Hypotension

Question 34

_____ can be caused by blood being pushed with too much force by the heart through vessels or by constriction of the vessel walls.

A) Hypertension
B) Pericarditis
C) Aortic aneurysm
D) Hypotension

Question 35

In the United States, coronary heart disease (CHD) accounts for _____ percent of all deaths.

A) 62
B) 47
C) 35
D) 20

Question 36

Ninety percent of hypertension cases in the United States can be classified as essential hypertension, meaning that the:

A) condition was bound to appear.
B) reasons were present from birth.
C) condition was dormant.
D) causes are unknown.

Question 37

The blockage of vessels that supply blood to the heart can lead to pain, called _____ that radiates across the chest and arm.

A) angina pectoris
B) angina ludovici
C) angina bullosa
D) herpangina

Question 38

What is the process in which the blood vessels that supply the heart muscles are narrowed or closed by the gradual buildup of a hard, fatty substance called plaque and inflammation of the vessel walls?

A) Allostasis
B) Hypertension
C) Myocardial infarction
D) Atherosclerosis

Question 39

Which of the following is a valid research finding?

A) The functioning of the immune system is not affected by negative interpersonal events.
B) The partner who has more control over a divorce shows poorer immune system functioning than the other partner.
C) Married control subjects show poorer immune system functioning than men and women who have recently been divorced.
D) Married couples who argue more show poorer immunological functioning than other married couples.

Question 40

Which of the following occurs when the blood vessels that supply the heart muscles are narrowed or closed by the gradual buildup of a hard, fatty substance and inflammation of the vessel walls, blocking the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the heart?

A) Cardiomyopathy
B) Inflammatory heart disease
C) Valvular heart disease
D) Coronary heart disease

Question 41

Hostile people have greater secretion of the stress-related biochemicals known as:

A) cytokines.
B) autocrines.
C) somatostatin.
D) catecholamines.

Question 42

Which of the following statements about coronary heart disease (CHD) is true?

A) Attempts to reduce depression in CHD patients through the use of antidepressants have been highly successful.
B) Heart rate variability is not a risk factor for CHD.
C) Exercise is effective in reducing both CHD and depression.
D) Increased heart rate variability is an indication of poorer functioning of the autonomic nervous system.

Question 43

Which of the following is true of Internet-based health interventions?

A) They are not helpful for those who do not have access to in-person programs.
B) Though the Internet helps deliver exercise and nutrition programs to large segments of the population, the costs associated with it are often prohibitive.
C) Controlled studies of the effectiveness of these interventions show that they are totally ineffective in helping people change their behaviors.
D) Many behavioral interventions of this nature aim to increase people's exercise and improve their diet.

Question 44

When a person closes his or her eyes and relaxes, the brain waves characteristically show a regular pattern of 8 to 12 hertz. These waves are known as:

A) spindles.
B) gamma waves.
C) delta waves.
D) alpha waves.

Question 45

_____ provide people with explicit information about how to engage in positive health-related behaviors and with opportunities to do so in increasingly challenging situations.

A) Focus groups
B) Guided mastery techniques
C) Online interventions
D) Scenario management methods

Question 46

Which of the following is one factor that explains how hostility may lead to coronary heart disease?

A) Overarousal of the sympathetic nervous system
B) Lowering of blood pressure to dangerously low levels
C) Reduced secretion of the stress-related biochemicals
D) Increased resilience of the blood vessels

Question 47

Which of the following statements about cardiovascular disease is true?

A) Historically, far more men than women die of cardiovascular disease.
B) In recent years, the number of women dying of cardiovascular disease has decreased worldwide.
C) In recent years, the number of men dying of cardiovascular disease has increased worldwide.
D) Women are twice as likely as men to have the Type A personality pattern.

Question 48

Both depression and coronary heart disease (CHD) are linked to genes that alter the functioning of the:

A) cholinergic system.
B) noradrenaline system.
C) serotonin system.
D) dopamine system.

Question 49

Individuals' beliefs that they can engage in the behaviors to attain goals are known as:

A) achievement beliefs.
B) self-actualization beliefs.
C) social beliefs.
D) self-efficacy beliefs.

Question 50

People who sleep fewer than 6 hours each night have a _____ percent higher mortality rate than those who sleep at least 7 or 8 hours each night

A) 20
B) 30
C) 50
D) 70

Question 51

A strong cultural value in many Hispanic groups is _____, or prioritizing the respect and care of one's family over one's individual needs.

A) brotherhood
B) familism
C) patriarchal system
D) camaraderie

Question 52

Which of the following is NOT one of the three components of Type A behavior pattern?

A) A sense of time urgency
B) Easily aroused hostility
C) Predictability of reactions
D) Striving for achievement

Question 53

The goals of guided mastery techniques are to increase people's skills as well as their:

A) self-efficacy beliefs.
B) self-esteem needs.
C) social needs.
D) actualization beliefs.

Question 54

Which of the following is true of the link between depression and the risk of recurrent heart attacks and mortality in individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD)?

A) Depression doubles the risk.
B) Depression increases the risk by eight-fold.
C) Depression reduces the risk.
D) There is no correlation between the two.

Question 55

Which of the following is true of sleep deprivation?

A) It is a problem that is declining in intensity in the United States.
B) It is defined as sleeping 9 hours or less per day.
C) Over half of Americans say they chronically feel sleep deprived.
D) Sleep deprivation is more critical for women than men.

Question 56

Which of the following is true of Type A people?

A) They are usually relaxed.
B) They rarely set deadlines for themselves.
C) They rarely attempt to do multiple things at once.
D) They often fly into a rage with little provocation.

Question 57

Major depression occurs in _____ percent of hospitalized patients with coronary heart disease.

A) 50 to 60
B) 40 to 45
C) 35 to 40
D) 15 to 20

Question 58

Which of the following is true of the effects of sleep deprivation?

A) It is cumulative in nature.
B) It is possible for the body develops tolerance to reduced sleep in a short span of time.
C) It is much more pronounced in men than women.
D) It reduces stress levels.

Question 59

Analysis of brain-wave activity suggests that there are five stages of sleep: four differing depths of sleep and a fifth stage, known as:

A) delta stage.
B) spindle sleep.
C) rapid eye movement.
D) slumber.

Question 60

Which of the following may cause frequent changes in blood pressure, reducing the resilience of the blood vessels in hostile people?

A) The abrupt return to baseline levels of sympathetic nervous system activity following stressors
B) The frequent rise and fall of catecholamine levels
C) Low levels of physiological arousal in the anticipation of stressors
D) Underarousal of the sympathetic nervous system

Question 61

After an adult has been asleep for an hour or so, the EEG becomes very active. This stage is known as:

A) K-complex.
B) spindle.
C) REM sleep.
D) slumber.

Question 62

According to Harvey, _____ maintain insomnia.

A) stressors
B) medications
C) cognitive factors
D) behavioral factors

Question 63

A comprehensive assessment of how people sleep can be obtained by a _____ evaluation.

A) polysomnographic
B) polygraph
C) perceptual map
D) dyssomnia

Question 64

The behavioral component of cognitive-behavioral interventions for insomnia includes _____, which is, controlling conditions that might interfere with sleep.

A) response modification
B) environment modification
C) reinforcement
D) stimulus control

Question 65

When we fall asleep and when we awaken are strongly influenced by our biological rhythms, particularly:

A) retinal circadian rhythms.
B) neurotransmitter levels.
C) respiratory rhythms.
D) body temperature rhythms.

Question 66

An individual who has insomnia at least three nights per week for at least three months is likely to be diagnosed with ______.

A) Primary insomnia
B) Primary hypersomnia
C) Insomnia disorder
D) Secondary hypersomnia

Question 67

Which of the following age-groups spend the maximum sleeping time in REM sleep?

A) Newborn infants
B) Teens
C) Middle-aged adults
D) Older people

Question 68

Which of the following occurs in the first stage of sleep?

A) Short runs of rhythmical responses of 12 to 16 hertz
B) An occasional sharp rise and fall in the amplitude of the entire EEG
C) Less regular and lower amplitude brain waves
D) A pattern of slow waves of 1 to 2 hertz

Question 69

Which of the following refers to the second stage of sleep that is characterized by an occasional sharp rise and fall in the amplitude of the entire EEG?

A) K-complex
B) Wave volatility
C) Spindles
D) REM

Question 70

Dreaming occurs during the:

A) first stage of sleep.
B) rapid eye movement sleep.
C) second stage of sleep.
D) third and fourth stages of sleep.

Question 71

An assessment of how people sleep can be obtained using a wristwatch-like device called a(n) _____, which records movement.

A) polysomnograph
B) somnograph
C) actigraph
D) polygraph

Question 72

_____ is defined as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep that lasts only a few days and is an isolated occurrence.

A) Episodic insomnia
B) Primary insomnia
C) Primary hypersomnia
D) Periodic insomnia

Question 73

Which of the following occurs in the third and fourth stages of sleep?

A) Short runs of rhythmical responses of 12 to 16 hertz
B) An occasional sharp rise and fall in the amplitude of the entire EEG
C) Brain waves that are less regular and have lower amplitude
D) A pattern of slow waves of 1 to 2 hertz

Question 74

Which of the following spend the least amount sleeping time in REM sleep?

A) Newborn infants
B) Teens
C) Young adults
D) Older people

Question 75

_____ therapy involves initially limiting the amount of time insomniacs can try to sleep in the night.

A) Guided mastery
B) Sleep restriction
C) Medications
D) Delta-sleep-inducing

Question 76

Which of the following medications has the least clear benefit in the treatment of insomnia?

A) Antihistamine
B) Antidepressant
C) Benzodiazepine
D) Melatonin

Question 77

Which of the following refers to a sleep-wake disorder that occurs along with insomnia?

A) Parasomnia
B) Dyssomnia
C) Hypersomnia
D) Hypoinsomnia

Question 78

Which of the following has proven to be most reliably effective in the treatment of insomnia?

A) Antihistamines
B) Tryptophan
C) Delta-sleep-inducing peptide
D) Benzodiazepines

Question 79

Which of the following observations is true?

A) Chronic insomnia affects 45 to 50 percent of adults.
B) Chronic insomnia is more frequent in women than in men.
C) Chronic insomnia is more common in younger adults than in older adults.
D) Chronic insomnia is rarely related to other mental disorders.

Question 80

The second stage of sleep includes _____________ short runs of rhythmical responses of 12 to 16 hertz.

A) REM
B) spindles
C) delta waves
D) gamma waves