Chapter 14: Stress, Coping, and Psychopathology

Question 1

Gender differences in physiological stress outcomes

Answer 1

• no differences

Question 2

What are the sources of stress

Answer 2

• family roles
• violence
• discrimination
• poverty

Question 3

What factors are related to decreased levels of stress

Answer 3

• employment and marriage linked to decreased risk and decreased stress

Question 4

Gender differences in violence

Answer 4

• men more frequent targets and perpetrators of overall violence
• women more frequent targets of interpersonal violence (Friends and family) so it tends to be more traumatic

Question 5

How does discrimination affect the genders

Answer 5

• creates a stigma

- heightens stress response

Question 6

How does poverty relate to stress

Answer 6

• lack of control and resources creates stress

- women and ethnic minorities are more likely to be poor

Question 7

Gender differences in social supports (Friendship styles)

Answer 7

• mens friendships tend to be activity- orientated (instrumental aide)
• women’s friendships do provide emotional support
• social support is more beneficial than instrumental aide

Question 8

Gender differences in coping strategies

Answer 8

women- emotion focused coping , building social support

men- problem focused coping, fight or flight

Question 9

Which gender is more likely to seek social support

Answer 9

• women

Question 10

What are the two classification systems for the diagnosis of mental disorders

Answer 10

• international classification of disease (ICD)- WHO

- diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

Question 11

What are the major issues with the DSM-5

Answer 11

• tends to individualize disorders
• treats the individual, not the whole disorder (root of the problem, social context )
• views some disorders as exaggerations of gender roles
• DSM may not be objective and is controversial

Question 12

Gender differences in diagnosis

Answer 12

• women tend to be over diagnosed and men tend to be under diagnosed

Question 13

Gender stereotypes of both men and women in psychopathological disorders

Answer 13

• men get more commonly diagnosed with schizotypal PD and antisocial PD
• women get more commonly diagnosed with dependent PD and histrionic PD
  (conforms to gender roles)

Question 14

Gender comparisons in psychopathology

Answer 14

women
- more likely to seek mental health care
- consult general physicians
- receive outpatient treatment 
Men
- less likely to seek mental health care
- do not make as many physician visits
- tend to be confined and stay in mental hospitals linger

Question 15

Gender differences seen in Major Depression and Dysthymia (milder)

Answer 15

• about twice as frequent in women than men
• women ruminate on problems, magnifying them into depression
• men tend to “take action” diminishing their negative feelings (getting drunk )
• some cultures reject depression

Question 16

Gender differences in substance-related disorders

Answer 16

• stereotypical gender roles play a role
• research has linked depression and drinking, especially in men
• differences in choice of substance vary
• men more likely to use illegal drugs
• women are more likely to receive prescriptions for psychoactive drugs (Amphetamines)
• men more likely to actually be diagnosed with substance- related disorders

Question 17

3 Anxiety Disorders

Answer 17

• panic attack: intense fear
• agoraphobia (claustrophobia )
• phobias

Question 18

Gender differences in anxiety disorders

Answer 18

• some anxiety disorder do and some don’t

- women are more likely to be diagnosed with panic disorder and agoraphobia and specific phobias, panic attacks

Question 19

Gender differences in Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder

Answer 19

• women are more often to be diagnosed

Question 20

Gender differences in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Answer 20

• originated with men

- now more women receive diagnosis

Question 21

Gender differences in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Answer 21

• patterns of behaviours of men and women with these disorders vary
• men faster cycles and women slow cycles in Bipolar disorder

Question 22

Gender differences in Somatoform Disorders

Answer 22

• somatization disorder (complaints of physical problems without any physical basis)
• conversion disorder (the loss of physical function without any underlying physical basis
• more in women

Question 23

Gender differences in Paraphilias

Answer 23

• much more common in men

Question 24

What are culture-bound syndromes

Answer 24

• eg: ghost sickness
• reported symptoms can include general weakness, loss of appetite, suffocation feelings, recurring nightmares, pervasive feeling of terror
• associated with witches or witchcraft