Deck 13: Stress and Health

Question 1

Which of the following is considered a potentially stressful life event?

A) terrorism
B) job promotion
C) birth of a baby
D) All of these

Answer 1

All of these

Question 2

Which of the following is a true statement about the association between being the victim of a crime and stress?

A) The stress tends to diminish quickly once the immediate threat is gone.
B) Being the victim of a sexual assault results in more severe stress reactions than other kids of physical assault.
C) Over 75% of women who have been sexually assaulted are still experiencing severe stress reactions a year following the assault.
D) All of these statements are true.

Answer 2

Being the victim of a sexual assault results in more severe stress reactions than other kids of physical assault.

Question 3

In the Lehman (1987)studies,individuals who had lost a spouse or a child in a fatal automobile accident were still experiencing more depression than a control group up to ____________ later.

A) 1 year
B) 6 months
C) 3 years
D) 5 years

Answer 3

5 years

Question 4

Which of the following statements about stress is NOT true?

A) Stress is purely a cognitive condition.
B) Stress is linked with a variety of health problems.
C) Stress is associated with reduced immunity.
D) Stress is of particular concern to health psychologists.

Question 5

According to your text,research using the Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Scale suggests that which of the following may bean effective way to manage life events and stress levels?

A) Seek professional help at the moment you begin to feel overwhelmed.
B) Just ride it out and don't allow yourself to get upset.
C) Deal with the major events only and let the daily hassles slide.
D) Try to space out your life changes whenever you can.

Question 6

Sam loves sweet,kind,and loyal Gina,but he also craves fiery,unpredictable,and sensual Lola.Gina and Lola make it clear he can't have them both.What kind of conflict is Sam experiencing?

A) approach-approach
B) avoidance-avoidance
C) approach-avoidance
D) multiple approach-avoidance

Question 7

You need to come up with $100 to pay a speeding ticket fine within seven days.Suddenly,your boss tells you she is cutting your hours over the next 2 weeks because sales are really slow,and this will prevent you from being able to pay the ticket.The source of your stress is considered to be which of the following?

A) conflict
B) pressure
C) frustration
D) life events

Question 8

Which specialty area in psychology is specifically concerned with reducing the impact of stress on the well-being of the body?

A) clinical psychology
B) physiological psychology
C) health psychology
D) developmental psychology

Question 9

Which of the following MOST associated with the definition of stress?

A) coping
B) perception
C) motivation
D) genes

Question 10

The source of stress that is the result of not being able to simultaneously satisfy two or more motives is referred to as:

A) conflict.
B) pressure.
C) frustration.
D) life events.

Question 11

After the Mount Saint Helen's eruption in 1980,the residents of Othello,Washington,were diagnosed with ______ more stress-related physical illnesses and psychological disorders.

A) 50%
B) 90%
C) 150%
D) 200%

Question 12

Which of the following is particularly likely to be a hidden source of stress,because the situation looks so positive?

A) approach-approach conflict
B) avoidance-avoidance conflict
C) approach-avoidance conflict
D) multiple approach-avoidance conflict

Question 13

Life events cause stress because they:

A) involve change that is negative.
B) cause negative feelings.
C) require adjustments.
D) are perceived as pesky inconveniences.

Question 14

The source of stress that is the result of being unable to satisfy a motive is referred to as:

A) conflict.
B) pressure.
C) frustration.
D) life events.

Question 15

In the Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Scale,individuals:

A) are scored on how well they are coping with their current stresses.
B) describe how they would respond to a series of stressful events.
C) receive a score based on adding up the life change units experienced during the past year.
D) are coached on how best to cope with their daily hassles.

Question 16

Which specialty area in psychology is MOST directly concerned with stress management?

A) physiological psychology
B) personality psychology
C) clinical psychology
D) health psychology

Question 17

The life-event view of stress suggests that having a baby,even if you are happy about the event,is stressful because:

A) labor and delivery are so physically taxing.
B) it causes a significant change in your lifestyle.
C) mothers have so many fears and anxieties about motherhood.
D) fathers rarely participate in childcare practices.

Question 18

In your text,stress is defined as:

A) the physiological arousal associated with surprising events.
B) any event or circumstance that strains or exceeds an individual's ability to cope.
C) any event that causes an individual to feel angry and depressed.
D) changes in the environment to which an individual must respond.

Question 19

Which of the following is MOST relevant to health psychology?

A) studying the motivations of physicians
B) developing a surgical technique for the treatment of epilepsy
C) examining the impact of stress on the incidence of stroke
D) studying bonding at childbirth

Question 20

In the Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Scale,which life event is at the top of the rating scale?

A) divorce
B) death of spouse
C) death of a close family member
D) personal injury or illness

Question 21

The current perspective of the effects of stress on health is the ____________ model of health.

A) biological
B) biopsychological
C) sociobiological
D) biopsychosocial

Question 22

The first stage of the general adaptation syndrome is characterized by:

A) the mobilization of physical resources.
B) the depletion of physical resources.
C) high levels of resistance to stress.
D) a decreased risk of heart attack.

Question 23

Sue has been offered a scholarship to attend Harvard,but if she accepts,she'll have to face the long,cold Massachusetts winters,which could seriously aggravate her asthma.What kind of conflict is Sue experiencing?

A) approach-approach
B) avoidance-avoidance
C) approach-avoidance
D) multiple approach-avoidance

Question 24

In Epstein's studies of parachute jumpers,he views the conflict they experience as a(n):

A) approach-approach conflict.
B) approach-avoidance conflict.
C) avoidance-avoidance conflict.
D) multiple approach-avoidance conflict.

Question 25

Selye's general adaptation syndrome is set into motion when we experience:

A) psychological stress.
B) physical stress.
C) social stress.
D) Any of the above

Question 26

In which stage of the general adaptation syndrome have the body's resources been fully mobilized and resistance to stress is high?

A) resistance stage
B) exhaustion stage
C) alarm stage
D) resolution stage

Question 27

Fred is walking down an alley when two men jump out at him with knives and demand his money.Fred turns to run but at the other end of the alley is a ferocious-looking Doberman pincher snarling at him.What kind of conflict is Fred experiencing?

A) approach-approach
B) avoidance-avoidance
C) approach-avoidance
D) multiple approach-avoidance

Question 28

A hungry crocodile just gulped down the gem our hero risked his life to find.Now,bad guys show up with guns and run off with our hero's sweetheart in the opposite direction.The hero pauses to think,"If I go for the gem,there's the crocodile.If I go for the girl,there are the bad guys.Either way,I've got a fight on my hands." What type of conflict is brewing?

A) approach-approach
B) avoidance-avoidance
C) approach-avoidance
D) multiple approach-avoidance

Question 29

In which stage of the general adaptation syndrome is blood diverted away from digestion?

A) resistance stage
B) exhaustion stage
C) alarm stage
D) resolution stage

Question 30

In your college classes,you have four major projects due in the next 3 weeks.You need to do well in all of them because if you do not keep your grades up this semester,you will not be eligible for scholarship funds next semester.The source of your stress is considered to be which of the following?

A) conflict
B) pressure
C) frustration
D) a natural disaster

Question 31

With approach-avoidance conflict,as the individual gets closer in time to the stressful event,the motive to approach the event increases ____________,and the motive to avoid the event increases ____________.

A) slowly;slowly
B) slowly;quickly
C) quickly;slowly
D) quickly;quickly

Question 32

Which of the following is a true statement about our reactions to stress?

A) Stress only leads to changes in our emotions and motivations when it is long-lasting.
B) Stress usually produces both physiological and psychological reactions.
C) Rarely does stress have an impact on our cognitions.
D) Completely different reactions to stress occur when the stress is physical in nature than when it is psychological in nature.

Question 33

Phyllisia's dad offers her $15 to clean out the garage.She really needs the money,but there is nothing she can think of that is more disgusting than cleaning out the garage.What kind of conflict does Phyllisia face?

A) approach-approach
B) avoidance-avoidance
C) approach-avoidance
D) multiple approach-avoidance

Question 34

In your text,which of the following is NOT listed as a major source of stress?

A) frustration
B) conflict
C) pressure
D) boredom

Question 35

According to your text,which of the following is NOT described as a potential source of stress?

A) the threat of failure
B) competing desires
C) lack of stimulation
D) air pollution

Question 36

When Greg comes home from school,his mother yells from upstairs,"Greg,you didn't clean your room.You better get it done! Is all your homework finished?" Greg hates cleaning his room and hates doing homework.It looks like Greg has a conflict-what kind?

A) approach-approach
B) avoidance-avoidance
C) approach-avoidance
D) multiple approach-avoidance

Question 37

In which stage of the general adaptation syndrome is epinephrine released into the blood stream?

A) resistance stage
B) exhaustion stage
C) alarm stage
D) resolution stage

Question 38

The source of stress that arises from the threat of negative events is referred to as:

A) conflict.
B) pressure.
C) frustration.
D) life events.

Question 39

Selye considered the general adaptation syndrome to be:

A) an abnormal physical reaction to stress.
B) the excessive response pattern associated with Type A personalities.
C) the common response pattern experienced by any individual experiencing stress.
D) a distinctive reaction to physical stress but not the pattern for psychological stress.

Question 40

You have to write 20 more pages on your term project before tomorrow.It's brutally tedious,but if you do well,you'll get a good grade in the course.Suddenly,your neighbor calls with a relationship problem.It would make you feel good to talk her through this crisis,but it would also be emotionally draining.What type of conflict are you experiencing?

A) approach-approach
B) avoidance-avoidance
C) approach-avoidance
D) multiple approach-avoidance

Question 41

Which of the following claims about the relationship between stress and the immune system is MOST accurate?

A) Only unusually intense stress affects immune system functioning.
B) Depressed individuals tend to have impaired immune system functioning.
C) Stress increases the number of natural killer cells in the immune system.
D) Long-term stress stimulates the immune system to provide protection against infectious diseases.

Question 42

The second stage of the general adaptation syndrome is characterized by:

A) the depletion of resources.
B) the restoration of resources.
C) an increased mobilization of resources.
D) the continued use of resources.

Question 43

Which of the following is true about the association between depression and immune system functioning?

A) The poor sleeping and eating habits of depressed individuals fully explain why their immune systems are impaired.
B) The excessive drinking,smoking,and lack of exercise of depressed individuals fully explain why their immune systems are impaired.
C) Both immune system functioning and depression are caused by a disturbance in the autonomic and endocrine systems.
D) Depression takes a direct toll on immune system functioning.

Question 44

One of the MOST dangerous consequences of an activated general adaptation syndrome over the long term is:

A) elevated blood sugar.
B) faster bleed time.
C) arrhythmia.
D) the formation of plaque in the arteries.

Question 45

The general adaptation syndrome is most beneficial when dealing with:

A) immediate emergencies.
B) high-pressure lifestyles.
C) long-term illness.
D) multiple daily hassles.

Question 46

Which of the following types of negative events would be the MOST stressful?

A) an event that is predictable and controllable
B) an event that is predictable but not controllable
C) an event that is not predictable but is controllable
D) an event that is neither predictable nor controllable

Question 47

The third stage of the general adaptation syndrome is characterized by:

A) the depletion of resources.
B) the restoration of resources.
C) an increased mobilization of resources.
D) the continued use of resources.

Question 48

Juno,a rookie police officer,and Ham,an experienced police officer,are chasing a suspect down the highway? How severe will their stress reactions likely be?

A) Juno and Ham are both unlikely to experience much stress,since the fact that they are police officers indicates they are both risk-takers.
B) Juno is likely to experience MORE stress than Ham,as he has less experience with high-speed highway chases.
C) Juno is likely to experience LESS stress than Ham,as Ham has knows from experience how dangerous high-speed highway chases can be.
D) Juno and Ham are both unlikely to experience much stress,since they have each other's social support.

Question 49

Rats were exposed to a series of electrical shocks.The rats in Group A could turn a wheel to avoid an anticipated shock or to turn off a shock.The rats in Group B had no control over the shocks.What was the outcome of this study?

A) Group A rats and Group B rats became depressed and lost weight.
B) Group A rats thrived,and Group B rats initially became depressed but eventually developed coping mechanisms to deal with the shocks.
C) Neither Group A nor Group B rats experienced significant detrimental effects.
D) Group B rats were more likely to develop ulcers and lose weight.

Question 50

Research on stress suggests that if you are going to try to give up a bad habit,you should:

A) remind yourself continually that you have no control over this behavior.
B) use the buddy system and give up the habit with another person who is also quitting.
C) focus on the positive aspects of the habit to prevent depression.
D) use relaxation techniques every time you "slip" and fall back into the habit.

Question 51

Of the following stressors,which one tends to be the MOST stressful?

A) stressors that are ignored
B) self-induced stressors
C) unfamiliar or surprising stressors
D) predictable stressors

Question 52

Nyiah says,"This is my fifth pregnancy.I've been through all of this before." Which factor will account for the fact that Nyiah will handle her stress more efficiently in this pregnancy than in her other pregnancies?

A) developmental factors
B) control
C) prior experience
D) social support

Question 53

It has been noted that elderly men have more detrimental health effects following the death of a family member (other than other their spouse)than do women.What factor MOST likely accounts for this difference?

A) Estrogen protects women from the negative effects of stress.
B) Men have fewer social supports.
C) Unlike women,men do not plan for losses and so they are unprepared for death.
D) Men perceive more events as uncontrollable.

Question 54

Having friends or family to tell about one's problems:

A) has no known effect on reactions to stress.
B) tends to cause people to become even more stressed because feelings of embarrassment or shame then accompany the stress.
C) decreases some of the effects of stress.
D) tends to cause people to become even more stressed because they keep playing the stressful event over and over in their minds.

Question 55

In the study by Cohen (1996),stressful life events were significantly associated with an increased risk of:

A) heart attack.
B) depression.
C) catching a cold.
D) developing cancer.

Question 56

With early exposures to negative events,being able to predict the event ____________ the level of stress experienced;having control over it ____________ the level of stress experienced.

A) decreases;has no effect on
B) increases;decreases
C) has no effect on;increases
D) decreases;decreases

Question 57

The finding that young widows and widowers experience more prolonged depression than do older widows and widowers illustrates the importance of ____________ in predicting individual reactions to stress.

A) developmental factors
B) control
C) prior experience
D) social support

Question 58

Clint just got fired.This is going to create so many problems that he cannot even begin to count them all.In addition to beginning an active job search,what should Clint do to reduce his stress?

A) Go to his boss and tell him to drop dead.
B) Admit that his own foolishness lost him his job.
C) Tell himself that he was planning to quit that lousy job anyway.
D) Vent his frustrations with a trusted friend.

Question 59

In studies of adolescents who were sexually abused,how many developed suicidal thoughts?

A) 61%
B) 25%
C) 41%
D) 0%

Question 60

Which of the following factors have been correlated with depression?

A) poor sleeping and eating habits
B) excessive drinking,smoking,and lack of exercise
C) a disturbance in the autonomic and endocrine systems
D) all of these

Question 61

Angelica was raped.In the months that follow,she frequently said to herself,"At least he didn't kill me.I am not impure,because I didn't do anything wrong.I was the victim,not the perpetrator." All of these thoughts constitute:

A) cognitive coping.
B) removing the source of the stress.
C) defense mechanisms.
D) managing the stress reaction.

Question 62

Which of the following is characteristic of the Type A personality?

A) violent
B) self-actualized
C) impatient
D) apathetic

Question 63

On stressful days,when Zachary goes to bed,he does a series of progressive relaxation exercises to relax his muscles and allow him to sleep better.What kind of coping strategy is Zachary using?

A) removing the source of the stress
B) managing the stress reaction
C) cognitive coping
D) withdrawal

Question 64

Type A personalities tend to have:

A) overworked heart muscles and decreased lung capacity.
B) higher blood pressure and more cholesterol plaques.
C) a higher vulnerability to addictive substances.
D) increased immune system functioning.

Question 65

Compared to non-Type A personalities,people with Type A personalities tend to:

A) experience higher levels of physiological arousal in competitive situations.
B) experience less physiological arousal across situations.
C) have better coping skills when feeling stressed.
D) have negligible levels of cortisol release when feeling stressed.

Question 66

Which description BEST fits the Type A personality?

A) speaks loudly,is demanding,and is often angry with others
B) acts assertively,succeeds in business,and is good with numbers
C) quiet,passive,and easygoing
D) noncompetitive,works at a comfortable pace,and takes frequent vacations

Question 67

Cognitive coping involves:

A) carrying out a plan to eliminate the stress.
B) changing one's thoughts about the stressful situation.
C) learning specific relaxation techniques.
D) withdrawal.

Question 68

Which of the following would NOT be suggestive of ethnic differences in the experience of stress?

A) Minority groups tend to have fewer advantages that would shield them from stress.
B) Minority groups often experience stressful interactions within the majority culture based on prejudice.
C) Minority groups such as immigrant families experience additional stress due to rapid acculturation of their children into the new culture.
D) The majority group experiences "reverse discrimination," whereby minority group members receive preferential treatment.

Question 69

According to your text,what is a common means of "managing stress reactions"?

A) relaxation techniques
B) removing the source of the stress
C) looking for positive aspects in the situation
D) committing to do better next time

Question 70

Which of the following statements illustrates the role of marriage on stress levels and health?

A) There appears to be no effect of marriage on health.
B) Unmarried women have a 5% higher mortality rate than married women.
C) Unmarried men have a 250% higher mortality rate than married men.
D) Married people experience more stress overall than do single people.

Question 71

Which observation BEST explains the connection between Type A personality and heart disease?

A) Increased levels of the epinephrine and norepinephrine lead to arterial plaques.
B) Increased levels of blood sugar lead to "sticky blood."
C) Decreased supplies of glucose lead to malnutrition and poor habits.
D) Burning calories rapidly leads to insufficient hormones to combat stress.

Question 72

Elena and Arturo get into another big fight about money and unpaid bills.Arturo storms out of the house,goes to the nearby track,and runs three laps around it.What kind of coping strategy is Arturo using?

A) removing the source of the stress
B) managing the stress reaction
C) cognitive coping
D) withdrawal

Question 73

Which of the following is a likely reason for the gender differences in health benefits derived from marriage?

A) Married women tend to take better care of themselves physically than do married men.
B) The increased responsibilities carried by the husband are additional stressors that women do not experience.
C) Women tend to rely on their husbands for social support.
D) Married men tend to be urged by their wives to eat well and to seek medical advice.

Question 74

Which of the following is a true statement about gender differences in response to stress?

A) Men are more likely than women to experience anxiety,depression,and sleep disturbances subsequent to a trauma.
B) Women are more likely than men to experience anxiety,depression,and sleep disturbances subsequent to a trauma.
C) Men tend to experience more severe stressful situations than women.
D) Men are less emotional overall because of genetic differences.

Question 75

The personality characteristic most associated with heart disease is:

A) resentful.
B) suspiciousness.
C) verbally aggressive.
D) anxious.

Question 76

"Perfectionistic and demanding;highly competitive and hard-driving" describes what kind of person?

A) a Type A personality
B) a repressor
C) a Type B personality
D) a sensitizer

Question 77

Which of the following would NOT be considered a form of cognitive coping?

A) carefully designing a step-by-step plan of how to correct the situation
B) finding the "silver lining" behind the dark clouds
C) viewing the stressful situation as "in God's hands."
D) changing how one interprets the stressful situation

Question 78

Taylor and her colleagues (2000)propose that women react to stress with which of the following reactions?

A) tend and befriend
B) flight or fight
C) flight
D) hide or flight

Question 79

Because you know that the end of any semester in school is filled with increasing stress,which of the following would be most likely to minimize the amount of stress you will experience?

A) Develop the attitude that it's best to just "roll with the punches."
B) Carefully plan when projects are due and map out a strategy for completing them.
C) Picture yourself having a successful semester.
D) Develop the understanding that this is an issue of immaturity and you'll handle stress better when you get older.

Question 80

The coping strategy of removing the source of stress can be problematic because:

A) stress is a necessary part of life and maturity.
B) it can invite even more problems.
C) sometimes it simply isn't possible.
D) it may backfire.