Psych Quiz

Steptoe and Marmot 2003 APFC

Steptoe and Marmot 2003 APFC

Aim – to look at differences in physiological stress responses to a number of stressors. 

Procedure – conducted a survey on the interaction of social, psychological, and physiological aspects of stress. Researchers used a sample of 227 British men and women, aged 47-59. Used seven questionnaires, each related to a different stressor. Blood samples were also taken, in order to have a physiological measure for stress - for example, levels of cortisol - that could indicate an elevated risk for heart problems.

Findings – a person scoring high on one stressor did not necessarily have a high score on another. However, participants who had a high mean score on all seven stressors also had blood tests indicating that they were in the high-risk group for developing heart problems. The same relationship was seen in terms of the psychological effects of stress - for example, depression, anxiety, and low quality of life.

Conclusion – Researchers argue on the basis of these results that stress research must focus on specific stressors in isolation, as well as combinations of stressors, since the accumulated effect of several stressors may put individuals at increased risk of heart disease 

Roseman et al (1976) APFC

Aim – if there were any health effects correlated with Type A personality.

Procedures – The study was quasi-experimental design, looking at the incidence of coronary heart disease over a period of 8.5 years. During that period 257 of the participants developed coronary heart disease.

Findings – The researchers found a significant link between heart disease and cholesterol levels, cigarette smoking, and systolic blood pressure. But they also found a link to personality. 70% of the men who developed coronary heart disease had Type A personalities. When participants were matched for smoking, exercise, cholesterol levels, and systolic blood pressure, Type A was nearly twice as likely to develop heart disease as Type B.

Conclusion – Studies carried out on women have not shown such a major difference between Type A and Type B and subsequent health. This may suggest that different coping strategies are just as important as personality.

Weinstein (1983)

Aim – to understand the role of optimism bias and students' perception of the risk of different health problems.

Procedures – Weinstein studied 88 students (32 males and 56 females), primarily non-smokers with no family history of diabetes and who did not drink alone. Participants were asked to assess their risk across eleven health and safety risks, including heart attack, alcoholism, and lung cancer. They were divided into three conditions:

• Control group (n = 31): Participants filled out the questionnaire with no additional information.

• Own-risk group (OR) (n = 29): Participants were informed that some risk factors were well-established, while others were only potential risks.

• Informational group (n = 28): Participants were shown data on typical responses from other Rutgers students for each question.

Findings – Participants displayed optimism bias, especially in the control and own-risk groups, by perceiving their risk as lower than the average. The informational group showed less optimism bias, as they had access to typical risk data from peers.

Conclusion – Optimism bias can be reduced when individuals are provided with peer comparison data, suggesting that presenting realistic risk information may help individuals more accurately assess their health risks.

Curran and Hill (2017)

Aim: To investigate whether levels of perfectionism among university students have increased over time, and if this increase may be linked to societal changes and higher stress levels.

Procedure: Curran and Hill (2017) conducted a meta-analysis of 164 studies spanning from 1989 to 2016, analyzing data from 41,641 American, Canadian, and British university students aged 18 to 25. The participants completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, which measured three types of perfectionism: self-oriented, socially prescribed, and other-oriented perfectionism. The analysis examined changes in these perfectionism levels across time.

Findings:

- Self-oriented perfectionism increased by 10%, with 55% of students scoring above the 1989 mean.

- Socially prescribed perfectionism showed the highest increase, with a 32% rise and nearly two-thirds of students scoring above the 1989 mean.

- Other-oriented perfectionism increased by 16%, with three-fifths of students above the 1989 mean.

Conclusion: Curran and Hill concluded that rising societal pressures, including competitiveness and social comparison, may contribute to increasing levels of perfectionism. This trend may be linked to higher stress levels and mental health challenges among young people, although the study is correlational and does not establish causation.

Discuss the biopsychosocial model of well-being. (one study)

• Steptoe and Marmot

The biopsychosocial model of well-being suggests that health is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Steptoe and Marmot (2003) demonstrated this in their study on British civil servants, finding that high work stress and low social support were linked to poorer health outcomes, such as increased risk of cardiovascular disease. They showed that psychosocial stressors could trigger biological responses, like elevated cortisol levels, which negatively impact health. This supports the biopsychosocial model, highlighting the importance of considering multiple factors in understanding and improving well-being.

Discuss dispositional factors as determinants of health. (one study)

• Roseman

Dispositional factors, such as personality traits, can significantly impact health outcomes. Roseman et al. (1976) demonstrated this by studying how the "Type A" personality—marked by competitiveness, urgency, and hostility—relates to heart disease. Following over 3,000 men for eight years, they found that Type A individuals were more likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD) than those with more relaxed "Type B" traits. This study supports the idea that certain personality traits, like those in Type A individuals, can increase vulnerability to stress-related health issues.

Discuss health beliefs as determinants of health. (one study)

• Weinstein

Health beliefs, such as optimism bias, can impact health decisions. Weinstein (1980) demonstrated this by studying how people perceive their own health risks. Participants rated their likelihood of experiencing health issues (e.g., lung cancer, diabetes) compared to others. Weinstein found that most participants believed they were less likely than average to face these health risks, showing an optimism bias. This study illustrates how health beliefs, particularly unrealistic optimism, can lead individuals to underestimate personal risks, potentially influencing their health behaviors and preventive actions.

Discuss the role of protective and/or risk factors in health. (one study)

• Curran and Hill

Curran and Hill (2017) investigated how societal changes influence health through rising perfectionism. They found that perfectionism, particularly socially prescribed perfectionism, increased over 27 years among university students. This rise was linked to higher stress levels and mental health issues. The study shows that societal pressures, like competitiveness and social comparison, act as risk factors for mental health problems, while a lack of coping mechanisms can exacerbate stress.