Unit 10: Health, Stress, and Coping

Question 1

What does a health psychologist study?

a) the negative impacts that our behaviour has on our health
b) the positive impacts that our behaviour has on our health
c) the chance that we will survive based on our decisions
d) both the positive and the negative impacts that our behaviour and decisions have on our health and survival

Answer 1

d

Question 2

Which of the following statements is the best evidence that viewing smoking in movies plays a causal (rather than correlational) role in influencing people’s perception of smoking and willingness to try smoking?

a) The more adolescents smoke, the more smoking occurs in movies.
b) Long-term trends show that increased or decreased incidence of smoking by adolescents follows increases or decreases in rates of smoking in movies.
c) Adolescent smoking occurs at roughly the same rate regardless of how smoking is depicted in films.
d) Advertisements for smoking occur more frequently when smoking rates decrease.

Answer 2

b

Question 3

________ is a hypothesized mechanism that serves to maintain body weight around a physiologically programmed level.

a) BMI
b) Set point
c) A sedentary lifestyle
d) Obesity

Answer 3

b

Question 4

Which of the following factors is most strongly correlated with a person’s weight?

a) the number of hours spent browsing social media
b) the number of hours spent using a computer at school
c) the number of hours spent using a computer for work
d) the number of hours spent watching television

Answer 4

d

Question 5

Which psychological term refers to the often subtle, unintentional spreading of a behavior as a result of social interactions?

a) discrimination
b) health psychology
c) social contagion
d) observational learning

Answer 5

c

Question 6

Shea was about to give a speech to a large audience and noticed a leading authority on his topic walk into the auditorium and take a seat. According to the cognitive appraisal theory of stress, what type of appraisal is Shea making upon noticing this individual?

a) secondary appraisal of stress
b) emotional arousal effect
c) primary appraisal of stress
d) individual zone of optimal functioning

Answer 6

c

Question 7

Claire was usually a little bit nervous before writing exams. However, prior to writing her first Canadian history exam, Claire noticed that she didn’t really feel any stress at all. She ended up getting a C+ on the exam, well below her normal performance. What is the best explanation for her poor mark?

a) The test was too complex for Claire, so her stress impaired her performance.
b) Claire’s stress consumed her cognitive resources, thus leading to a poor grade.
c) Claire’s stress level during the exam did not provide her with enough emotional arousal to perform at her best.
d) The test was so difficult that Claire’s stress levels were not important.

Answer 7

c)

Question 8

Which of the following lists the stages of Selye’s general adaptation syndrome in the correct order?

a) alarm, exhaustion, resistance
b) alarm, resistance, exhaustion
c) resistance, exhaustion, alarm
d) resistance, alarm, exhaustion

Answer 8

b

Question 9

High ________ levels and low ________ levels are associated with elevated stress.

a) vasopressin; cortisol
b) oxytocin; vasopressin
c) vasopressin; epinephrine
d) cortisol; oxytocin

Answer 9

d

Question 10

People with ________ personality are patient and easygoing, and have a relaxed disposition, whereas individuals with ________ personality tend to be impatient and are easily angered, competitive, and highly motivated.

a) Type B; Type A
b) relaxed; Type H
c) Type A; Type B
d) Type H; relaxed

Answer 10

a

Question 11

________ is the tendency to respond to problems with a pattern of anxiety, hostility, anger, guilt, or nervousness.

a) Negative affectivity
b) Pessimism
c) A coping style
d) An aggression complex

Answer 11

a

Question 12

What is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)?

a) a protein in the nervous system that promotes survival, growth, and formation of new synapses
b) a hormone that is released in those individuals with a healthy diet
c) a neurotransmitter that reduces stress and increases overall well-being
d) a calorie-restricted diet that may involve eating approximately 60% of the normal number of calories, while continuing to take in the needed nutrients

Answer 12

a

Question 13

________ is a positive coping strategy, while ________ is a negative style of coping.

a) Meditation; alcohol
b) Pessimistic explanatory style; negative affectivity
c) Post-traumatic growth; resilience
d) Meditation; resilience

Answer 13

a

Question 14

________ is an acquired suppression of avoidance or escape behavior in response to unpleasant, uncontrollable circumstances.

a) Compensatory control
b) Coping
c) Resilience
d) Learned helplessness

Answer 14

d

Question 15

A mentally healthy person who is prone to claiming that patterns exist where there are none

a) is showing signs of post-traumatic growth.
b) is showing negative affectivity.
c) has a pessimistic explanatory style.
d) probably feels a lost sense of control over a problem or situation.

Answer 15

d

Question 16

In modern times, the leading causes of death in industrialized nations such as Canada are ________.

a) viral infections
b) bacterial infections
c) lifestyle factors
d) each of the above are equal contributors

Answer 16

c

Question 17

Which of the following provides the best explanation for the observation of a strong relationship between television viewing and obesity, and a weak relationship between computer use and obesity?

a) The relationship depends entirely on the type of programming being watched.
b) Computer use involves a greater degree of involvement than passively soaking in television programming, and people are more likely to snack while watching television.
c) Playing video games involves a greater expenditure of energy.
d) People play video games and sit in front of computer screens for a longer period of time, and therefore eat more while engaged in these activities.

Answer 17

b

Question 18

Arabella is 17 years old and has given up eating all her favorite high-calorie foods in an attempt to lose weight. Arabella may have difficulty resisting foods in the future and ultimately gain weight again because her approach

a) ignores her set point.
b) doesn’t account for the influence of low-calorie foods.
c) makes high-calorie foods more rewarding.
d) focuses too much on genetic weight.

Answer 18

c

Question 19

Based on the research discussed in this module, which of the following is the lowest risk factor for health problems?

a) having an identical twin who is overweight
b) being a married adult
c) experiencing discrimination
d) being an unmarried adult

Answer 19

b

Question 20

Which of the following statements about how discrimination influences health is most accurate?

a) People who experience discrimination are likely to compensate for it by making positive health-related choices.
b) Experiencing discrimination stimulates the stress response, which can bring about long-term health problems.
c) An immediate increase in heart rate is the biggest problem associated with experiencing discrimination.
d) Discrimination is unrelated to poor health.

Answer 20

b

Question 21

According to the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), which of the following is likely to cause you the most stress?

a) a jail term
b) a pregnancy
c) the death of a family member
d) a divorce

Answer 21

d

Question 22

Which of the following is a stress-sensitive hormone that is typically associated with maternal bonding and social relationships?

a) oxytocin
b) norepinephrine
c) cortisol
d) HPA axis

Answer 22

a

Question 23

A major difference between the tend-and-befriend stress response and the responses mediated by the autonomic pathway and the HPA axis is that

a) the tend-and-befriend response is a negative stress reaction, whereas the autonomic pathway and HPA axis responses are positive reactions.
b) men are more likely to express the tend-and-befriend response.
c) the tend-and-befriend response facilitates care for offspring and others in a social group.
d) the tend-and-befriend response involves cortisol activity.

Answer 23

c

Question 24

What is psychoneuroimmunology?

a) the study of both the positive and negative effects that our behaviour and decisions have on health, survival, and well-being
b) a condition in which plaques form in the blood vessels that supply the heart with blood and oxygen, resulting in restricted blood flow
c) a hormone secreted by the adrenal gland
d) the study of the relationship between the immune system and nervous system functioning

Answer 24

d

Question 25

Your partner suddenly broke up with you and did not offer an explanation. If you attribute the breakup to your not being a very outgoing person, you are demonstrating ________.

a) negative affectivity
b) a coping style
c) a pessimistic explanatory style
d) resilience

Answer 25

c

Question 26

_____________ psychologists study both positive and negative impacts that behaviour and decisions have on health, survival, and well-being.

a) Cognitive
b) Social
c) Biological
d) Health

Answer 26

d

Question 27

While most people consider their weight (as measured by the number of kilograms read from a scale) as the prime determinant of their health, a better measure of whether a person is overweight or obese is their

a) body mass index.
b) positive energy balance.
c) set point.
d) obesity rate.

Answer 27

a

Question 28

Rajiv decided to lose weight by dieting. He found that it was relatively easy to lose the first eight or so kilos, but after that, he felt his body was fighting his efforts to lose more weight. Rajiv’s experience is consistent with

a) generalization.
b) the rebound effect.
c) set point theory.
d) body mass index.

Answer 28

c

Question 29

Which of the following is a key factor that contributes to weight gain?

a) gender
b) sedentary lifestyle
c) smoking a pack of cigarettes per day
d) decreased caloric intake

Answer 29

b

Question 30

What effect does watching food commercials have on eating habits?

a) Snacking in general is more likely after viewers watch a food commercial.
b) Food commercials influence the eating habits of adults but not of children.
c) People are more likely to eat the specific product being advertised but nothing else.
d) Food commercials have no effect on eating habits.

Answer 30

a

Question 31

People in Gary’s extended social group (including friends of friends) share similar characteristics. Over time, members of this extended group tend to show similar fluctuations in body weight, physical health, and habits. This is an example of

a) social similarity.
b) social contagion.
c) social order.
d) social grouping.

Answer 31

b

Question 32

Based on what you know about research methods, which of the following would be the least accurate statement?

a) Smoking is correlated with watching movie stars smoke.
b) Watching movie stars smoke causes adolescents to smoke.
c) Adolescents who smoke identify with movie stars who smoke.
d) Adolescents who smoke are exposed to more smoking in movies.

Answer 32

b

Question 33

If stress is a response, a _________ is the triggering event.

a) secondary appraisal
b) primary appraisal
c) stressor
d) trauma

Answer 33

c

Question 34

For someone who is afraid of the dentist, having his name called in the waiting room would likely begin the ____________ stage of the general adaptation syndrome, while his experiences during an extensive procedure would involve the ____________ stage.

a) exhaustion; resistance
b) adaptation; resistance
c) resistance; exhaustion
d) alarm; resistance

Answer 34

d

Question 35

Which of the following is a system in the body that energizes the body to respond to stressors?

a) the ARM axis
b) the HPA axis
c) the CDC axis
d) the OCEAN axis

Answer 35

b

Question 36

Many people believe that stress causes people to get ill, yet the research cited in the text suggests that this is an overly simplistic explanation of the relationship between stress and sickness. Which of the following is a more valid explanation?

a) The body tends to adapt to the constant call for the stress response and, thus, future responses are not as strong as before.
b) The stress response in the long run leads to a lowering of the heart rate, which makes the heart inefficient.
c) The stress response reduces immune system functioning, thus making us more vulnerable to diseases.
d) The stress response makes muscles stronger, which places a greater burden on the heart and respiratory systems.

Answer 36

c

Question 37

Which of the following is a viable theory about why the stress that men experience puts them at greater risk for coronary heart disease than women?

a) Stress overstimulates heart tissue, which leads to damage.
b) Stress stimulates the immune system’s inflammatory response, which leads to the development of plaques.
c) Stress hormones block the absorption of oxygen into the blood, leading to an enlargement of the heart.
d) Stress hormones slow down heart rate, decreasing circulation and allowing plaques to build up.

Answer 37

b

Question 38

Rita is always smiling and appears happy. Any time you call her for help, she is pleasant, friendly, and more than willing to help. She takes her time but is also productive. She would fit the ________ personality type.

a) Type B
b) Type D
c) Type A
d) Type C

Answer 38

a

Question 39

Contrary to popular belief, ulcers are actually caused by

a) a bacterium.
b) high levels of stress.
c) a sedentary lifestyle.
d) poor diet.

Answer 39

a

Question 40

______________ involves studying what makes people thrive, even in the face of extreme stress. It focuses on studying human strengths and potential.

a) Psychoneuroimmunology
b) Negative psychology
c) Positive psychology
d) Adaptive psychology

Answer 40

c

Question 41

Many people believe in certain superstitions, such as blowing on a pair of dice for good luck before rolling them. Which of the following is the benefit of such beliefs?

a) They provide a sense of order and structure to random and uncontrollable events.
b) They provide an alternative to the pessimistic explanatory style.
c) They encourage optimistic thinking.
d) They reduce stress because they convince people that events are predetermined and out of their control.

Answer 41

a

Question 42

When we are in circumstances where we cannot control the outcomes, we often engage in __________ as a backup strategy to hold on to the illusion that we are, in fact, in charge of our lives.

a) compensatory control
b) negative affect
c) pessimistic explanatory styles
d) post-traumatic growth

Answer 42

a

Question 43

Positive coping strategies would include which of the following personal characteristics?

a) pessimistic explanatory style
b) learned helplessness
c) post-traumatic growth
d) negative affectivity

Answer 43

c

Question 44

What has research shown in regards to optimism?

a) Those who were optimistic by nature experienced the same amount of stress as those who were not optimistic.
b) Those who were optimistic by nature experienced the same levels of chronic heart disease as those who were less optimistic.
c) Those who were optimistic by nature experienced relatively high levels of stress and depression and were also proactive in seeking out peers for support and companionship.
d) Those who were optimistic by nature experienced relatively low levels of stress and depression and were also proactive in seeking out peers for support and companionship.

Answer 44

d

Question 45

Dr. Luongo is using a complex form of meditation called ________________, which was developed from traditional Chinese medicine. She hopes to incorporate this into her holistic practice.

a) contemplated mind–body training
b) associated mind–body training
c) integrated mind–body training
d) initiated mind–body training

Answer 45

c