Question 1

Research has demonstrated that people can experience positive outcomes from deeply negative events.Which term best characterizes this phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

Posttraumatic growth refers to the experience of positive changes in one's life following a traumatic event. These changes may include greater appreciation of life, increased personal strength, improved relationships, and a deeper sense of spirituality or meaning in life. Despite the challenges and pain of the trauma experienced, individuals who experience posttraumatic growth are able to find meaning and purpose in their suffering and use the experience as an opportunity for personal growth and development.

Question 2

According to the textbook,if health researchers wish to continue the trend toward an improved quality of life,which contributing factors to death must be addressed?

Accepted Answer

Lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and tobacco use are major contributors to chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer, which are leading causes of death worldwide. Addressing these lifestyle factors can have a significant impact on improving health and quality of life. While infectious diseases and lack of vaccines are also important factors to address, they are not the primary contributors to death in developed countries where the trend towards improved quality of life is already underway. Primitive civilizations are not a factor in this context as they are not relevant to modern health research.

Question 3

A student finds examinations to be very stressful.If he decides to cope by using a problem-directed coping strategy,what might he do?

Accepted Answer

By speaking to his teachers about alternative methods of evaluation, the student is using a problem-directed coping strategy as he is addressing the root cause of his stress (the way exams are evaluated), and attempting to find a solution that reduces this stress. Options A and D are avoidant coping strategies, which do not address the problem but instead seek to reduce stress through distraction or relaxation. Option B could be a useful cognitive coping strategy in some cases, but it does not address the problem of exam stress directly.

Question 4

One study examined the impact of informational and emotional support for men and women who were undergoing facial surgery.What did the results reveal?

Accepted Answer

The results revealed that people who had more social support anticipated their surgery with less anxiety, required less anesthesia, and had briefer hospital stays. This suggests that both informational and emotional support can have a positive impact on the experience of undergoing facial surgery, regardless of gender.

Question 5

In a study on a group of women diagnosed with breast cancer,researchers observed these women over the course of a year to determine how their mental and physical health evolved.What did the results reveal?

Accepted Answer

The study revealed that women who were doing the best were the ones who were able to use perceived benefits to engage in positive reappraisal coping. This suggests that finding positives in a difficult situation can be helpful for mental and physical health.

Question 6

Within the biopsychosocial model,which scenario best exemplifies health behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Exercising regularly to prevent future illness is an example of health behavior within the biopsychosocial model. Health behavior refers to actions taken to maintain or improve health, and regular exercise is a common health behavior associated with various physical and mental health benefits. Taking one's temperature and taking medications prescribed by a physician are more related to medical treatment, while treating oneself after losing weight is more related to reward or motivation rather than health behavior.

Question 7

A friend is trying to deal with her stressors.She plans on applying the three-phase process of stress inoculation proposed by cognitive-behaviour therapist Donald Meichenbaum.What step should she take first?

Accepted Answer

According to the three-phase process of stress inoculation proposed by cognitive-behaviour therapist Donald Meichenbaum, the first step is to redefine one's problems in terms of causes and results. This involves identifying the sources of stress and their impact on one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Only then can one begin to develop and implement effective coping strategies. Therefore, option C is the correct choice. The other options, such as identifying new behaviours, appraising the consequences of adaptive behaviours, and avoiding negative self-talk, are steps that come later in the process.

Question 8

An individual believes that the course of his chronic illness cannot be directly influenced by the attitude he takes toward his illness and that only the advances of medical science can help him.Based on the research on the effects of perceived control,what will be the most likely outcome for this individual?

Accepted Answer

Research on perceived control has shown that individuals who believe their attitude and behavior can influence the course of their illness have better psychological and physical outcomes than those who feel powerless. Therefore, this individual's belief that only medical science can help him may lead to poor psychological adjustment, as he perceives himself as having no control over his illness.

Question 9

If one's stressors are uncontrollable,which coping techniques would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

If one's stressors are uncontrollable, it means that problem-focused coping techniques would not work. Instead, it is important to focus on managing one's emotions and reactions to the stressors. Emotion-focused coping techniques involve regulating one's emotions, such as through relaxation techniques, mindfulness, or seeking social support. These techniques can help individuals feel more in control and reduce the negative impact of stress on their mental and physical health. Somatically-focused coping techniques (B) involve physical strategies such as exercise, which may not be effective if the stressors are uncontrollable. Cognitively focused coping techniques (D), such as reframing or cognitive restructuring, may also not be as effective if the stressors are not within one's control.

Question 10

What approach to managing stress is superior?

Accepted Answer

There is no one superior approach to managing stress as it depends on the individual's situation and the type of stressor they are facing. Multiple coping strategies can allow for a more adaptable and effective response to stress as it allows individuals to choose and use various strategies depending on the situation. This may include problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and anticipatory coping. Therefore, the best choice is C, multiple coping strategies.

Question 11

In helping a student deal with her fear of speaking in public,her counsellor asks her to be aware of the origins of her fear,then identify new behaviours that negate her fear,and finally evaluate how these new behaviours are working for her.Which term characterizes this three-phrase process?

Accepted Answer

The three-phase process described in the question is a key component of stress inoculation therapy, which is an evidence-based approach to treating anxiety and fear-related disorders. This therapy helps individuals to develop coping mechanisms by gradually exposing them to anxiety-provoking situations and teaching them to practice new behaviors that negate their fear. The three-step process described in the question (i.e. identifying the origins of fear, developing new behaviors, and assessing their effectiveness) is a fundamental aspect of stress inoculation therapy. Therefore, the correct answer is B (stress inoculation).

Question 12

Which statement about stress moderator variables is accurate?

Accepted Answer

Stress moderator variables do not increase the impact of stressors, but rather filter or buffer their effects. They may be innate, but can also be learned, and they typically do not eliminate the source of stress, but rather affect the way an individual perceives and copes with it.

Question 13

A man's wife of 25 years has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and has been given no more than three months to live.As a way to help the husband reduce his stress,what approach should be recommended?

Accepted Answer

Emotion-focused coping is recommended in situations where the stressor cannot be changed, such as terminal illness, as it helps manage emotional responses.

Question 14

Elaine has earned her degree and is going on a potentially stressful job interview.When she arrives at the location of the interview,she imagines that the people she will be speaking with are all stand-up comedians,which makes her smile and relax.Which type of coping strategy is Elaine using?

Accepted Answer

Elaine is using cognitive reappraisal by imagining the people she will be speaking with as stand-up comedians in order to change her perspective on the job interview and reduce her stress levels.

Question 15

What is the general goal of health psychology?

Accepted Answer

The general goal of health psychology is to use psychological knowledge to promote wellness. This can involve promoting health behaviors, identifying the psychological factors that contribute to illness, and developing interventions to improve overall health outcomes. Health psychologists also work to improve healthcare by enhancing the patient-provider relationship and developing strategies to improve adherence to medical treatments.

Question 16

Which causes of death have been appropriately ranked from highest to lowest?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which causes of death have been appropriately...

Question 17

Days before a student is scheduled to make a presentation in class,she works out a plan for relieving the anxiety associated with giving the presentation.Which term best captures this student's approach?

Accepted Answer

Anticipatory coping refers to the strategies people use to manage potential stressors before they occur. In this case, the student is proactively planning how to manage her anxiety before giving the presentation, which is an example of anticipatory coping. Type A and Type B behaviours refer to personality traits, and primary appraisal refers to the initial evaluation of a stressful event. Therefore, neither A, B, nor D are appropriate choices for this scenario.

Question 18

Romeo is no longer in love with Juliet,but is afraid to tell her.Recently,he has found himself watching more television than usual and fantasizing about taking a vacation instead of having to confront Juliet.What approach is Romeo using as a way to reduce his stress level?

Accepted Answer

Romeo is using distraction and avoidance techniques, such as watching more TV and daydreaming about a vacation, as a way to avoid dealing with the source of his stress (telling Juliet he is no longer in love with her). This is an example of emotion-focused coping, which aims to reduce the negative emotions associated with a stressful situation rather than directly addressing the problem itself.

Question 19

When a man's wife approaches him about the many problems in their marriage,he is puzzled and wonders privately if he should take his wife's concerns seriously.According to Richard Lazarus,what process is the the man illustrating?

Accepted Answer

The man is in the initial stage of evaluating the situation, where he is trying to understand the significance of the problem and whether it is a threat to his well-being. This is known as primary cognitive appraisal, according to Lazarus's model of stress and coping. Emotional appraisal (A) occurs in the second stage, where the individual evaluates the emotional response to the situation. Secondary cognitive appraisal (C) involves evaluating the resources available to deal with the situation. Denial (D) is a defense mechanism where an individual refuses to acknowledge the reality of a situation.

Question 20

Researchers have found that both informational and emotional supports are effective for different people in different situations.Generally,what appears to matter in terms of support?

Accepted Answer

The most important factor in terms of support is that there is a match between what an individual wants and what they receive. This means that the support needs to be tailored to the individual's needs and preferences in order to be effective. Whether that support is informational or emotional may vary depending on the person and the situation they are in. But ultimately, the key is that the support meets their specific needs and helps them in the way they want and need to be helped.

Quiz 13: A: Emotion,stress,and Health