PSY 121: Chapter 12: Stress and Health

A contemporary definition of stress includes ____________.

- a subjective discrepancy between a situation and a person's ability to cope with the situation

- an objective discrepancy between a situation and a person's ability to cope with the situation

- a subjective discrepancy between the body's physiological responses and the demands of the situation

- an objective discrepancy between the body's physiological responses and the demands of the situation

a subjective discrepancy between a situation and a person's ability to cope with the situation

An event that is perceived as threatening or challenging is known as a ______.

- stressor

- eustress

- distress

- stress

stressor

If a stressor is short term, energizing, and seen as something to be conquered, it will likely be experienced as _____.

- a catastrophe

- distress

- a daily hassle

- eustress

eustress

Dr. Banini is a health psychologist. When she conducts assessments of new patients, she is sure to ask about their medical history, family history of illness, any psychological symptoms, and current stressors in their life (e.g., family, work, home environment). Dr. Banini is practicing from a __________ perspective.

- gene-environment interaction

- diathesis-stress

- bio-stress-environmental

- biopsychosocial

biopsychosocial

A person may inherit the predisposition for heart disease but not experience the symptoms of heart disease until he loses his job and gets a divorce in the same year. The genetic predisposition is considered a _____ factor in the biopsychosocial model.

- inherited

- social

- psychological

- biological

biological

The psychological aspect of stress may include feelings of anger. Anger is considered part of the _______________ experience of stress.

- behavioral

- emotional

- social

- behavioral

emotional

An individual's ___________ should be viewed as an overarching factor that affects other biopsychosocial factors.

- culture

- ethnicity

- socioeconomic status

- religion

culture

People with lower socioeconomic status (SES) are ____ more likely to die at a younger age than their higher SES counterparts.

- three times

- four times

- no

- two times

three times

Houmam moved from Syria to England 8 months ago. He is struggling to communicate in English and fit in with his new friends in school. What kind of stress is Houmam experiencing?

- Acculturative

- Displacement

- Immigrant

- Sociocultural

Acculturative

The neuroendocrine system responsible for releasing cortisol and other stress hormones to defend against stress is called ____________.

- amygdala-adrenal axis

- general adaption axis

- parasympathetic nervous system axis

- hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

Which part of the nervous system directs the fight-or-flight response in times of stress?

- Sympathetic

- Parasympathetic

- Central

- Somatic

Sympathetic

The three stages of the general adaptation syndrome are:

- alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

- resistance, exhaustion, and illness.

- alarm, cortisol, and exhaustion.

- resistance, alarm, and exhaustion.

alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

In response to stress, the sympathetic nervous system releases ____________, whereas the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system releases ___________.

- endorphins; insulin

- endorphins; cortisol

- cortisol; epinephrine

- epinephrine; cortisol

epinephrine; cortisol

All of the following are considered psychological responses to stress EXCEPT

- emotional eating

- learned helplessness

- bullying

- substance abuse

bullying

Nathan has a father who yells and tells him he is stupid. His father beats him when he doesn't do his chores quickly enough. Nathan believes he is stupid and that he will never be able to escape his situation at home. What is Nathan experiencing?

- Learned depressed behavior

- Anxiety and worry

- Ineffective coping

- Learned helplessness

Learned helplessness

The interdisciplinary field that emphasizes the interaction of psychological, neurological, and immunological factors in stress and illness is called ____________.

- psychological neuroscience

- psychoneuroimmunology

- biopsychologicla

- psychobioimmunology

psychoneuroimmunology

The three lymphocytes that play a role in health and disease are ____________.

- natural killer cells (NK), B lymphocytes (B cells), and T lymphocytes (T cells)

- antigens, antibodies, and white blood cells

- natural killer cells (NK), antibodies, and antigens

- white blood cells, B lymphocytes (B cells), and T lymphocytes (T cells)

natural killer cells (NK), B lymphocytes (B cells), and T lymphocytes (T cells)

T cells work directly to kill _______ without the help of ______.

- B cells; natural killer cells

- antigens; antibodies

- C cells; B cells

- antibodies; antigens

antigens; antibodies

What is the leading cause of death in North America?

- Coronary heart disease

- Cancer

- Diabetes

- HIV/AIDS

Coronary heart disease

Johann is competitive, easily angered, impatient, and verbally aggressive toward those around him. Johann is considered to have which personality type?

- Type D

- Type B

- Type C

- Type A

Type A

Which personality type predicts subsequent physical and/or mental health issues after the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease?

- Type C

- Type A

- Type B

- Type D

Type D

Neurofeedback has been used to teach individuals with depression and anxiety how to self-regulate which response?

- Hypothalamus

- Blood pressure

- Frontal lobe

- Amygdala

Amygdala

Nikki has a high-pressure sales job. She experiences physiological and psychological stress on a daily basis. Nikki is learning how to systematically tense and relax her muscles to relieve the tension in her body. What is this technique called?

- Progressive muscle relaxation

- Mindfulness muscle relaxation

- Neurofeedback

- Biofeedback

Progressive muscle relaxation

Hank, who just turned 50, believes he will enjoy his middle and older years and has a positive outlook on the aging process. What implications can this have for the rest of his life?

- Hank will be more likely to participate in mindfulness meditation than his less optimistic friends.

- Hank will live longer than his less optimistic friends.

- Hank will have more friends than those who are less optimistic.

- Hank will have a decreased life expectancy compared to his less optimistic friends.

Hank will live longer than his less optimistic friends.

Stuart's car breaks down his first week of college. He has just started a new job and needs his car to get to work. He calls around to mechanics to get an estimate of the cost of repairs and compares that to the money he has saved up in the bank. He decides to call his parents and ask if he can borrow half the money needed for the repair. Which strategy is Stuart using to cope with this stress?

- Problem-focused coping

- Emotion-focused coping

- Explanatory style coping

- Optimistic coping

Problem-focused coping

How does social networking vary between individualistic and collectivistic cultures?

- People from individualistic cultures spend more time and have more friends with social networking than those from collectivistic cultures.

- People from individualistic and collectivistic cultures have the same views regarding social networking.

- People from individualistic cultures are less likely to use social networking as a form of social support.

- People from collectivistic cultures spend more time and have more friends with social networking than those from individualistic cultures.

People from individualistic cultures spend more time and have more friends with social networking than those from collectivistic cultures.

A person who is considered religiously active is likely to experience _____________ compared to people who are not religiously active.

- psychological advantages

- neither psychological nor physical advantages

- psychological and physical advantages

- physical advantages

psychological and physical advantages

Some stress researchers have proposed we restrict the definition of stress to situations that involve ____________.

- daily hassles and frustrations

- natural disasters and catastrophes

- aggression and violence

- unpredictability and lack of control

unpredictability and lack of control

A hurricane and an hour daily commute are both considered:

- eustress.

- stressors.

- stress.

- distress.

stressors.

Stress that has a negative impact on people is referred to as __________, whereas the stress that has positive results is called ____________.

- catastrophe; hassles

- eustress; distress

- distress; eustress

- hassles; eustress

distress; eustress

Leesa is excited and nervous to go on her first overseas vacation. She has been thinking about how much the trip will cost and wonders if she is independent enough to manage on her own. Leesa is experiencing which aspect of psychological stress?

- Biological

- Cognitive

- Social

- Behavioral

Cognitive

When people feel stressed, they often start eating unhealthy food and stop exercising. These ____________ aspects of stress can lead to more stress in the future.

- behavioral

- cognitive

- emotional

- social

behavioral

Mitch was raised in foster care and has no real family to rely on when life becomes overwhelming. He also has difficulty making friends because he does not trust that people won't leave him. Mitch does not have good _______, which can increase the impact of stressors.

- coping skills

- genetics

- emotional skills

- social support

social support

Socioeconomic status or SES is most often calculated using a combination of _______ and ___________.

- life expectancy; educational attainment

- income; life expectancy

- income; educational attainment

- educational attainment; cultural background

income; educational attainment

The group of people who will most likely have the highest life expectancy are those who are __________ and ____________.

- low SES; live in an urban area

- high SES; live in a rural area

- high SES; live in an urban area

- low SES; live in an urban area

high SES; live in an urban area

Muslim Arabs who are ___________ are more likely to experience acculturative stress when trying to adjust to the United States.

- less outgoing

- more outgoing

- less religious

- more religious

more religious

What are some of the physiological changes that make up the fight-or-flight response?

- Increased heart rate, increased respiration, sweating, decreased digestive function

- Decreased heart rate, increased respiration, sweating, increased digestive function

- Increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, decreased respiration, decreased digestive function

- Increased digestive function, decreased heart rate, increased respiration, sweating

Increased heart rate, increased respiration, sweating, decreased digestive function

Increased cortisol production has been linked to what negative outcomes?

- Decreased weight and memory impairment

- Weight gain and memory consolidation

- Increased sleep and memory consolidation

- Weight gain and memory impairment

Weight gain and memory impairment

Under stress, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis releases _____________, whereas the sympathetic nervous system releases ____________ and ______________.

- cortisol; epinephrine; insulin

- cortisol; epinephrine; norepinephrine

- epinephrine; cortisol; norepinephrine

- insulin; cortisol; epinephrine

cortisol; epinephrine; norepinephrine

Women's emotional response to stress typically involves nurturing behaviors that have been called ___________________.

- wine and dine

- tend and befriend

- care and cry

- fight or flight

tend and befriend

Marissa's boyfriend broke up with her, and she failed her chemistry test the same day. Marissa feels depressed and worried. Which foods is she most likely to eat in response to her stress?

- Vegetables and hummus

- Fried chicken and French fries

- Miso soup and sushi

- Brownies and ice cream

Brownies and ice cream

Researchers believe that emotional eating and obesity use similar brain pathways as substance use and addiction. Which neurotransmitter is associated with these pathways?

- Serotonin

- GABA

- Dopamine

- Epinephrine

Dopamine

What factors can influence the functioning of your immune system?

- Age, alcohol intake, and exercise

- Age, genetics, and nutrition

- Genetics, obesity, and quality of sleep

- Caffeine use, exercise, and genetics

Age, genetics, and nutrition

What is the function of the natural killer (NK) cells?

- They patrol the body looking for diseased cells and attack them with lethal chemicals.

- They attack antigens indirectly by releasing deadly chemicals into the invading cells.

- They attack foreign invaders indirectly by creating antibodies.

- They release antigens to help increase the number of white blood cells.

They patrol the body looking for diseased cells and attack them with lethal chemicals.

During periods of stress, the brain releases cortisol and other stress-related hormones. What impact do these stress hormones have on the immune system?

- They kill the T cells, B cells, and NK cells so they can no longer fight infection.

- They suppress the disease-fighting activity of the T cells, B cells, and NK cells leaving the person more susceptible to illness.

- They stimulate antibodies before the B cells can produce them.

- They increase the activity of the white blood cells, which overstimulates the system leading to illness.

They suppress the disease-fighting activity of the T cells, B cells, and NK cells leaving the person more susceptible to illness.

Which psychological treatment has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression among cancer patients?

- Biofeedback

- Behavioral therapy

- Mindfulness-based therapy

- Interpersonal therapy

Mindfulness-based therapy

How is stress related to cancer?

- Stress is only a casual factor in people who have a history of cancer.

- There is no relationship between stress and cancer.

- Stress can cause cancer.

- Stress can make a person's body more hospitable to cancer.

Stress can make a person's body more hospitable to cancer.

What is the relationship between stress, cortisol, the immune system's functioning, and the risk of illness?

- Stress leads to increased cortisol and decreased functioning of the immune system, which increases the risk of illness or infection.

- Stress leads to decreased cortisol and decreased functioning of the immune system, which increases the risk of illness or infection.

- Stress leads to decreased cortisol and increased functioning of the immune system, which decreases the risk of illness or infection.

- Stress leads to increased cortisol and increased functioning of the immune system, which decreases the risk of illness or infection.

Stress leads to increased cortisol and decreased functioning of the immune system, which increases the risk of illness or infection.

Biofeedback is designed to help people control their _____ bodily functions as a way to _____ stress.

- internal; increase

- external; eliminate

- voluntary; reduce

- involuntary; reduce

involuntary; reduce

Quincy is imagining himself lying on a beach. He tries to feel the cool ocean breezes against his skin, hear the quiet lap of the ocean, and see the swaying of the palm trees. He is using which technique to reduce stress?

- Progressive muscle relaxation

- Neurofeedback

- Guided imagery

- Meditation

Guided imagery

Aerobic exercise has been found to ____________.

- slow down the cellular damage from stress and stimulate new cell growth

- improve cardiovascular health

- reduce stress and symptoms of depression

- All of the answers are correct

All of the answers are correct

Reza's parents are going through a divorce. Reza would like to live with his mother, but where he lives will be decided by a judge. Reza feels stressed, in part, because he lacks ____________.

- coping strategies

- problem-solving skills

- perceived control

- the opportunity to participate in biofeedback

perceived control

A cognitive appraisal of a stressful situation involves two steps. What are they?

- Problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping

- A primary appraisal and a secondary appraisal

- A secondary appraisal and reassessment of the situation

- A primary appraisal and optimistic explanatory style

A primary appraisal and a secondary appraisal

Helga was diagnosed with breast cancer and is anxious and worried about the outcome. Her friends have rallied around her, spending time watching funny movies or taking her to comedy clubs. Helga's friends are engaging in which type of coping?

- Avoidance coping

- Distracted coping

- Problem-focused coping

- Emotion-focused coping

Emotion-focused coping

Compared to a collectivistic culture, a person from an individualistic culture is likely going to have __________ friends and be ___________ likely to seek out social support.

- fewer; less

- fewer; more

- more; more

- more; less

more; more

How is Facebook related to social support?

- The number of Facebook friends is positively related to perceived social support.

- Facebook creates social overload and leaves people feeling disconnected and unsupported.

- There is no relationship between the number of friends a person has on Facebook and their experience of social support.

- The number of friends a person has on Facebook is positively related to actual social support.

The number of Facebook friends is positively related to perceived social support.

What are some of the positive physical health outcomes associated with being religiously active?

- More social support, less depression and anxiety, a sense of purpose in life

- Healthier diet, more physical activity, improved immune system functioning

- More positive emotions, lower risk for heart disease, and more social support

- Higher self-esteem, lower risk of developing cancer, and less cigarette smoking

Healthier diet, more physical activity, improved immune system functioning

Justina drove over ice, started sliding, and thought she was going to crash. Under this stress, she experienced a(n) ______________ in her sympathetic nervous system, which resulted in her experiencing _______________ and _________________.

- decrease; increased heart rate; increased respirations

- decrease; decreased heart rate; pupil dilation

- increase; increased heart rate; decreased respirations

- increase; pupil dilation; increased respirations

increase; pupil dilation; increased respirations

The physiological stress response system associated with the release of the hormone cortisol is called the _______________, and the system associated with the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine is called the _________________.

- hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; parasympathetic nervous system

- hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; sympathetic nervous system

- general adaptation system; sympathetic nervous system

- sympathetic nervous system; parasympathetic nervous system

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; sympathetic nervous system

Which answer represents the correct order of the three stages of general adaptation syndrome?

- Alarm, resistance, exhaustion

- Exhaustion, alarm, resistance

- Alarm, exhaustion, resistance

- Resistance, alarm, exhaustion

Alarm, resistance, exhaustion

Colton arrived home late one night. As he was walking from his car, he thought he heard someone come up behind him. As a result, his sympathetic nervous system became active. Which of the following physiological changes would Colton be likely to experience in this situation?

- Increased sweating, pupil constriction

- Decreased sweating; decreased heart rate

- Increased respirations (breathing rate); pupil dilation

- Increased heart rate, decreased respirations (breathing rate)

Increased respirations (breathing rate); pupil dilation

When confronted with a threatening or stressful situation, the sympathetic nervous system releases ______________, whereas the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis triggers the release of ______________.

- epinephrine; cortisol

- cortisol; norepinephrine

- epinephrine; norepinephrine

- glucose; cortisol

epinephrine; cortisol

According to the General Adaptation Syndrome, the body responds to prolonged stress in three stages. Choose the correct order of the stages.

- Exhaustion, resistance, alarm

- Resistance, exhaustion, alarm

- Alarm, exhaustion, resistance

- Alarm, resistance, exhaustion

Alarm, resistance, exhaustion

B cells are white blood cells that work by ___________________, whereas T cells attack foreign invaders __________________.

- producing antibodies; directly

- producing lethal toxins; indirectly

- producing lethal toxins; directly

- producing antibodies; indirectly

producing antibodies; directly

Lymphocytes are white blood cells that are part of the immune system. Cells that attack viruses, bacteria, and cancer directly are called ___________, and cells that work indirectly through the production of antibodies are called _____________.

- T cells; B cells

- T cells; NK cells

- B cells; T cells

- NK cells; T cells

T cells; B cells

Keena is starting a new job that requires her to learn many policies and procedures. She had to study a large handbook and pass an exam prior to officially starting to work. She studied for weeks and passed the exam, but then got sick the day before she was supposed to work her first shift. How would the field of psychoneuroimmunology explain why Keena got sick?

- The stress she was experiencing decreased her cortisol, which decreased the functioning of her immune system.

- The stress she was experiencing increased her cortisol, which increased the functioning of her immune system.

- The stress she was experiencing decreased her cortisol, which increased the functioning of her immune system.

- The stress she was experiencing increased her cortisol, which decreased the functioning of her immune system.

The stress she was experiencing increased her cortisol, which decreased the functioning of her immune system.

According to the field of psychoneuroimmunology, stress can impact illness in which of the following ways?

- Stress → decreased immune system functioning → decreased cortisol → increased risk of illness

- Stress → increased cortisol → decreased immune system functioning → increased risk of illness

- Stress → increased immune system functioning → increased cortisol → increased risk of illness

- Stress → decreased cortisol → decreased immune system functioning → increased risk of illness

Stress → increased cortisol → decreased immune system functioning → increased risk of illness