Chapter 4: Stress, Biopsychosocial Factors, and Illness

Question 1

Asthma

Answer 1

A psychophysiological disorder of the respiratory system in which bronchial inflammation and spasms lead to episodes of difficult breathing.

Question 2

Behavioural control

Answer 2

A form of personal control involving the ability to reduce the impact of a stressor by taking concrete action.

Question 3

buffering hypothesis

Answer 3

The view that the health benefits of social support come from its reducing the negative health effects of high stress levels.

Question 4

cognitive control

Answer 4

A form of personal control involving the ability to reduce the impact of a stressor by using thought processes.

Question 5

coronary heart disease (CHD)

Answer 5

A class of illnesses that result when a narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries restricts the blood supply to the heart muscle (myocardium).

Question 6

direct effects hypothesis

Answer 6

The view that the health benefits of social support accrue regardless of whether people experience high or low levels of stress.

Question 7

hardiness

Answer 7

An array of personality characteristics that enables individuals to withstand stress and not succumb to its negative health effects.

Question 8

hypertension

Answer 8

The condition of persistent high blood pressure.

Question 9

inflammatory bowel disease

Answer 9

A psychophysiological disorder involving wounds in the large or small intestine.

Question 10

irritable bowel syndrome

Answer 10

A digestive system disease with symptoms of pain, diarrhea, and constipation but no evidence of organic disorder.

Question 11

learned helplessness

Answer 11

A condition of apathy or inactivity that results from repeated experiences with unavoidable stress.

Question 12

locus of control

Answer 12

A generalized belief people have about the causes of events in their lives—whether the causes are within or outside their control.

Question 13

migraine headache

Answer 13

Recurrent head pain that results from the constriction and dilation of blood vessels in the head.

Question 14

personal control

Answer 14

The feeling people have that they can make decisions and take action to produce favourable events and avoid unfavourable ones.

Question 15

psychoneuroimmunology

Answer 15

A field of study focusing on relationships between psychosocial processes and nervous, endocrine, and immune system functioning.

Question 16

psychophysiological disorders

Answer 16

Physical symptoms or illnesses resulting from some combination of psychosocial and physiological processes.

Question 17

self-efficacy

Answer 17

People’s belief that they can succeed at something they want to do.

Question 18

social support

Answer 18

The perceived comfort, caring, esteem, or help an individual receives from other people or groups.

Question 19

stress prevention model

Answer 19

The view that the health benefits of social support come from helping us to avoid or minimize the occurrence of stressors.

Question 20

tension-type headache

Answer 20

Recurrent head pain that results from persistent muscle tension in the head and neck. Also called muscle‐contraction headache.

Question 21

Type A behaviour pattern

Answer 21

A behavioural or emotional style characterized by high levels of competitiveness, time urgency, and anger or hostility.

Question 22

Type B behaviour pattern

Answer 22

A behavioural or emotional style characterized by low levels of competitiveness, time urgency, and anger or hostility.

Question 23

ulcers

Answer 23

A psychophysiological disorder involving wounds to the stomach or upper section of the small intestine.