ch 13 stress health and coping

The definition of _____ is a negative emotional state occurring in response to events that are perceived as taxing or exceeding a person's resources or ability to cope.

A) a hassle B) stress C) a stressor D) appraisal

B

Which of the following is the BEST definition of stress?

A) the demands that are made on you by other people

B) deadlines, daily hassles, or inconveniences

C) a negative emotional state caused by your perception that you are unable to cope with events or circumstances

D) the mental processes that people use to make sense out of their environment

C

During their third year at college, Tammy and Timothy both lost their part-time jobs in the library due to funding cutbacks. Tammy was mildly disturbed, shrugged her shoulders, and said she'd soon get another job. Timothy was distraught and believed he might have to quit college. Their different reactions to the same stressful event emphasizes the importance of:

A) their respective cognitive appraisals of the event.

B) gender differences in response to stressors.

C) cultural differences in response to stressors.

D) quantifying major life events in terms of life change units.

A

When Chris missed his connecting flight due to bad weather, he became extremely upset and worried about the important meeting he was going to miss. In this scenario, the missed connection is an example of a _____, and his response to the missed connection is an example of _____.

A) life event; the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome

B) stressor; stress

C) hassle; the stress contagion effect

D) stress; stressor

B

The branch of psychology that studies how biological, behavioral, and social factors influence health, illness, medical treatment, and health-related behaviors is called:

A) social psychology. C) health psychology.

B) biological psychology. D) psychoneuroimmunology.

c

Health psychology is guided by the _____ model of health, illness, and well-being.

A) stress and coping C) psychoneuroimmunology

B) biopsychosocial D) general adaptation

b

The events or situations that are perceived as harmful, threatening, or challenging are called:

A) catecholamines. B) daily hassles C) stressors. D) life change units.

C

Research on the relationship between daily hassles and psychological distress and physical symptoms has shown that the:

A) frequency of daily hassles is unrelated to psychological distress and physical illness.

B) number of daily hassles people experience is a better predictor of psychological distress and physical illness than the number of major life events experienced.

C) number of major life events people experience is a better predictor of psychological distress and physical illness than the number of daily hassles experienced.

D) more hassles you experience, the less likely you are to suffer psychological distress and physical illness.

B

In their research, Dr. Grayson and his colleagues discovered there was a link between the number of daily hassles people experienced and psychological distress and physical ailments, such as headaches and backaches. One explanation for this phenomenon is that:

A) while each minor stressor may be relatively unimportant in itself, the effect of daily hassles can be cumulative.

B) even a minor daily hassle produces more stress than a major life event.

C) daily hassles tend to stimulate immune system responses and increase their effectiveness.

D) people who are illness-prone are more likely to experience daily hassles.

A

Subtle instances of racism that take a cumulative toll and often contribute to the chronic stress experienced by members of minority groups are referred to as:

A) life change units. C) microaggressions.

B) daily hassles. D) stress contagion responses.

C

In their survey research, investigators interested in the relationship between racism and chronic stress found that three-quarters of African-American adolescents reported being treated as incompetent or dangerous, or both, because of their race. Such subtle instances of racism are called:

A) daily hassles. C) life change units.

B) acculturative stressors. D) microaggressions.

D

When Arnell and his friends go to the local mall they are sometimes perceived as dangerous because of their race. If they are similar to three-quarters of other African American adolescents who reported being treated as incompetent or dangerous, or both, because of their race, they may be experiencing a subtle form of racism called:

A) microaggressions. C) the stress contagion effect.

B) acculturative stressors. D) daily hassles.

A

Stress can indirectly undermine health and physical well-being by:

A) causing muscle contractions and elevating blood pressure.

B) disrupting immune system functioning.

C) activating the fight-or-flight response.

D) making people more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors.

D

Stress can directly undermine health and physical well-being by:

A) altering body functions in a way that leads to physical symptoms or illness.

B) disrupting attention and concentration.

C) making people more likely to use tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs.

D) making people less likely to meet deadlines and commitments.

A

As her car spun out of control on an icy road, Mia's muscles tensed and her blood pressure, heartbeat, and pulse increased dramatically. This rapidly occurring chain of internal physical reactions is called the:

A) general adaptation response.

B) the stress contagion effect.

C) fight-or-flight response.

D) endocrine system pathway two response.

C

When a large snarling dog threatened Daniel during his regular morning jog, he experienced the classic symptoms of the fight-or-flight response. According to Walter Cannon, Daniel's response to this acute level of stress involves both:

A) the parasympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system.

B) activation of the hypothalamus and the release of ACTH.

C) the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system.

D) activation of the adrenal cortex and the secretion of corticosteroids.

c

When Marcy arrived home she was shocked to see that her house had been burglarized and ransacked, and she was terrified that the burglar might still be in the house. It is very probable that Marcy's sympathetic nervous system has stimulated her adrenal medulla to secrete hormones called:

A) corticosteroids. B) dopamine. C) catecholamines. D) serotonin.

C

_____ are hormones secreted by the adrenal medulla that cause rapid physiological arousal and include adrenaline and noradrenaline.

A) Corticosteroids B) Lymphocytes C) Teratogens D) Catecholamines

D

According to Walter Cannon, which of the following is the correct sequence involved in the fight-or-flight response to acute stress?

A) hypothalamus, sympathetic nervous system, adrenal medulla, secretion of catecholamines

B) hypothalamus, parasympathetic nervous system, adrenal cortex, secretion of corticosteroids

C) pituitary gland, secretion of catecholamines, parasympathetic nervous system, release of ACTH

D) pituitary gland, release of ACTH, sympathetic nervous system, adrenal medulla, secretion of catecholamines

A

Stress can have both direct and indirect effects that undermine physical health and body functions. Which of the following is considered a direct effect of stress?

A) disrupted sleep and other sleep problems

B) increased consumption of coffee, alcohol, and/or tobacco products

C) disrupted concentration and memory problems

D) increased levels of catecholamines and corticosteroids

D

Nikki, an air traffic controller, experiences prolonged and chronic stress. According to HAnswer Selye's model of stress, Nikki's response to this intense and persistent stress probably involves high levels of:

A) adrenaline and noradrenaline. C) catecholamines.

B) lymphocytes. D) corticosteroids.

D

The hormones that are released by the adrenal cortex and that play a key role in the body's response to long-term stressors are called:

A) corticosteroids. C) adrenaline and noradrenaline.

B) lymphocytes. D) catecholamines.

A

_____ is an interdisciplinary field that studies the interconnections among psychological processes, nervous and endocrine system functions, and the immune system.

A) Biopsychosocial psychology C) Psychoneuroimmunology

B) Behavioral medicine D) Health psychology

C

Psychoneuroimmunology is defined as:

A) an interdisciplinary field that studies the interconnections among psychological processes, nervous and endocrine system functions, and the immune system.

B) an interdisciplinary field that focuses on how physical health and illness are determined by the complex interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.

C) the branch of psychology that studies how biological, behavioral, and social factors influence health, illness, medical treatment, and health-related behaviors.

D) the branch of psychology that studies how psychological factors such as sense of personal control, explanatory style, personality traits, perceived social support, and coping strategies, affect an individual's response to stress.

A

Minor everyday stressors such as taking an exam:

A) have little or no effect on immune system functioning.

B) have a positive effect on immune system functioning.

C) can temporarily alter immune system functioning.

D) can increase immunity to bacterial and viral infections.

C

Janice Kiecolt-Glaser and Ronald Glaser investigated the effects of rather commonplace stressors such as the numerous exams that medical students have to take each year. They discovered that exposure to such ordinary stressors of life:

A) does not affect immune system functioning.

B) builds up greater immunity to bacteria, viruses, and other foreign invaders.

C) adversely affects immune system functioning.

D) decreases the levels of both corticosteroids and catecholamines in the body.

C

Psychologist Sheldon Cohen and his colleagues conducted a carefully controlled study examining the relationship between stress and susceptibility to the common cold. What were the results of this study?

A) Increased susceptibility to colds was not related to the volunteers' level of stress, but rather to unhealthy behaviors, such as poor diet and smoking.

B) The only factor that caused increased susceptibility to colds among the volunteers in the study was exposure to the nasal spray containing the cold virus.

C) The level of stress that the volunteers reported was very strongly related to their susceptibility to the common cold virus.

D) The only factor that caused increased susceptibility to colds among the study's volunteers was sharing an apartment with another person who already had the cold virus.

C

One reason why chronic stress may increase the susceptibility to infection is because chronic stress triggers the secretion of _____, which influence immune system functioning.

A) ACTH-releasing hormones C) adrenaline and noradrenaline

B) catecholamines D) Corticosteroids

D

Mrs. Pedersen lives in a nursing home that allows its residents to make choices about their daily activities and encourages them to make decisions that affect their lives. Compared to her friend Mrs. Ghormley, who lives in a nursing home where staff members make all these types of decisions, Mrs. Pedersen is likely to:

A) be more active, alert, sociable, and healthier.

B) be more tired, depressed, anxious, and less healthy.

C) develop severe debilitating physical and psychological problems.

D) regain her health and physical strength.

A