Question 1

Women and men who feel connected to a network of caring friends are less likely to die of cancer than those who feel alienated from others.This finding underscores the importance of the context in __________ health.

Accepted Answer

The finding highlights the role of social factors in influencing health outcomes, emphasizing the importance of social connections and support networks for physical health.

Question 2

Dr.Ortiz is investigating how a mother's habits will affect her child's lifelong development.Dr.Ortiz is evidently working from the __________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Ortiz's focus on how a mother's habits will affect a child's lifelong development suggests a life-course perspective, which emphasizes the importance of understanding how early life experiences shape lifelong outcomes. The sociocultural perspective, in contrast, would explore the influence of cultural and societal factors on development, whereas the biomedical perspective would focus on biological factors and the behavioral perspective would highlight the role of observable behaviors in shaping development.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT true regarding the immigrant paradox?

Accepted Answer

The immigrant paradox suggests that while immigrants may have lower socioeconomic status, they often have better health outcomes than expected. However, their children and grandchildren, despite having higher income and education, often experience worse health outcomes than the first generation.

Question 4

One research study found that boys who inherit one variation of the MAOA gene,and girls who inherit a different variation of the same gene,are more likely to engage in ____________ behavior as adolescents,but only if they were exposed to ____________ as children.

Accepted Answer

The study found that boys who inherit the low-activity version of the MAOA gene and girls who inherit the high-activity version of the same gene were more likely to engage in delinquent behavior as adolescents, but only if they were exposed to maltreatment as children.

Question 5

An "epigenetic effect" is one in which:

Accepted Answer

An "epigenetic effect" refers to changes in gene expression without changes to the underlying DNA sequence. These changes can be influenced by environmental factors such as diet, stress, or toxins. Therefore, option C is the best answer as it specific to environmental factors affecting gene expression. Option A refers to genetic susceptibility to disease, which is not necessarily related to epigenetic effects. Option B is true in general, but does not specifically relate to epigenetic effects. Option D refers to acute illness caused by toxins, which is also not a defining characteristic of epigenetic effects.

Question 6

Dr.Smyth is studying the relationship of socioeconomic status to health and disease.Dr.Smyth is evidently working from the __________ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Smyth is studying the relationship between socioeconomic status and health, which is a sociocultural perspective that examines how social and cultural factors affect an individual's health and wellness. The life-course perspective focuses on how experiences throughout an individual's life affect their health, while the gender perspective examines differences in health outcomes between males and females. The behavioral perspective focuses on individual behaviors and their impact on health.

Question 7

Which is one reason that middle-aged women have higher rates of illness than men in the same age group?

Accepted Answer

One reason that middle-aged women have higher rates of illness than men in the same age group is because women have been underrepresented as participants in medical research trials. This means that medical knowledge and treatment plans may not be as effective for women, as they are mainly based on research done on male patients. Therefore, conditions and illnesses that affect women may not be diagnosed or treated as effectively, leading to higher rates of illness in middle-aged women.

Question 8

A birth cohort is a group of people who:

Accepted Answer

A birth cohort is a group of individuals who were born during the same time period, typically within a few years of each other. It is not based on cultural, ethnic, or racial identity.

Question 9

Today,the leading cause of death in the United States is:

Accepted Answer

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for about 1 in 4 deaths. It is followed by cancer as the second leading cause of death. Accidents and infectious diseases are also significant causes of death, but they do not surpass heart disease and cancer in terms of overall numbers.

Question 10

Which of the following has NOT been a major health trend in the United States since 1900?

Accepted Answer

Lifestyle disorders such as cancer, stroke, and heart disease have not decreased since 1900. In fact, they have increased due to changes in lifestyles, diet, and aging populations. The other choices are all major health trends that have occurred since 1900.

Question 11

DNA methylation is best described as the:

Accepted Answer

DNA methylation is a biochemical process that occurs in body cells and helps regulate the expression of genes. It involves the addition of a methyl group to a DNA molecule, which can affect how genes are turned on or off in response to environmental factors. DNA methylation plays an important role in development, aging, and disease, and is influenced by factors such as diet, stress, and exposure to toxins. It is not directly involved in the inheritance of psychological traits such as introversion.

Question 12

Genomics is the study of the:

Accepted Answer

Genomics specifically focuses on the study of the structure, function, and mapping of genetic material within organisms. This includes the analysis of DNA sequences and genetic variation within and between populations. Options A, C, and D do not accurately describe the field of genomics.

Question 13

Subjective well-being refers to:

Accepted Answer

Subjective well-being is a person's own perception of their happiness and life satisfaction, regardless of objective circumstances or comparisons to others.

Question 14

According to the ecological-systems approach,health is a function of:

Accepted Answer

The ecological-systems approach emphasizes that health is not simply a result of the body's biological systems or our psychological makeup, but rather is a complex interaction between the body's biological, social, and psychological domains. This approach recognizes that health outcomes are influenced by a range of factors at multiple levels, including individual, interpersonal, community, and societal levels. Therefore, the interaction of these domains is the best choice for describing the ecological-systems approach to health.

Question 15

What is the leading cause of death among people age 45 and over?

Accepted Answer

Chronic conditions such as heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death among people age 45 and over, as they encompass a broad range of health issues that are prevalent in this age group.

Question 16

When psychologists use the term culture,they are referring to:

Accepted Answer

The term culture refers to the shared behaviors, values, and customs that a group of people has developed over time and transmitted from one generation to the next. This definition describes the enduring aspects of a group's culture, rather than just the experiences or values of a large group of people who may not share a common history or tradition.

Question 17

Dr.Rogers believes that our characteristic human behaviors exist as they do because they helped our distant ancestors survive.Evidently,Dr.Rogers is a proponent of the:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Rogers' belief that human behaviors exist as they do because they helped our distant ancestors survive aligns with the evolutionary perspective, which focuses on how the process of evolution has shaped human behavior and characteristics over time.

Question 18

Health psychologists view health:

Accepted Answer

Health psychologists view health from a biopsychosocial viewpoint, which considers biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to health and well-being. This approach recognizes that health is not just the absence of disease but is influenced by a variety of individual, environmental, and social factors.

Question 19

A person who attributes catching a cold to not getting enough sleep or experiencing too much stress after being exposed to a virus is implicitly accepting which model of health?

Accepted Answer

The biopsychosocial model of health considers the interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors in determining an individual's health and illness. This person recognizes the role of stress and lack of sleep in affecting their immune system and susceptibility to illness, indicating an understanding of the psychological component in their health.

Question 20

What is the leading cause of death in young people (age 1-44)?

Accepted Answer

Unintentional injuries including car accidents, falls, drowning, and drug overdoses, are the leading cause of death in young people aged 1-44. This age group is less likely to die from chronic diseases such as heart disease or cancer, which are more common in older age groups.

Quiz 1: B: Introducing Health Psychology