Question 1

Due to high stress levels, a student's memory is impaired. In addition to increased levels of stress hormones in the body, their ___________ has also physically deteriorated, from being exposed to high levels of hormones.

Accepted Answer

The hippocampus is known to be affected by high levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, leading to memory impairments. Chronic stress can physically damage the structure and function of the hippocampus.

Question 2

Post-traumatic stress disorder arose, at least in part, because of the recognition of trauma related to ________.

Accepted Answer

PTSD was initially recognized in relation to war combat, as many soldiers experienced severe psychological distress after returning from battle.

Question 3

Robert Baron and his colleagues (1990) conducted a study of people whose spouses were being treated for cancer. Those who rated themselves as having good social support responded to the injection of artificial antigens with more antibodies, demonstrating how strong social support appears to ______________ function and providing additional evidence that high social support is an important __________ factor.

Accepted Answer

The study shows that good social support is linked to a stronger immune response, indicating that social support enhances immune system function and acts as a protective factor against stress and illness.

Question 4

With regard to the relation between stress and illness, the tendency to become anxious or pessimistic under stress is as an example of a(n) _____________, while strong social support or coping skills are typically viewed as being ____________.

Accepted Answer

Vulnerability factors, such as a tendency to become anxious or pessimistic under stress, increase the likelihood of developing stress-related illnesses. Protective factors, like strong social support or coping skills, help mitigate the impact of stress and reduce the risk of illness.

Question 5

The major symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder include all of the following except, that the person ________.

Accepted Answer

Talking incessantly about a trauma is not a major symptom of PTSD. Major symptoms typically include avoidance of reminders of the trauma, severe anxiety, and reliving the trauma through flashbacks or dreams.

Question 6

A worker has intense "survivor guilt" from a severe car accident where all other co-passengers were killed. The worker has extreme stress and trauma from this mishap. The worker's symptoms show that they have ___________.

Accepted Answer

The worker's symptoms align with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is characterized by intense stress and trauma following a life-threatening event or witnessing death, such as a severe car accident.

Question 7

Work with nonhuman primates has found that mild early life stress _________ emotional, cognitive, and hormonal resistance to stressors later in life.

Accepted Answer

Studies on nonhuman primates have shown that experiencing mild stress early in life can actually strengthen emotional, cognitive, and hormonal resilience to stressors encountered later. This phenomenon is thought to prepare the organism to handle future stress more effectively.

Question 8

Poor coping skills and the lack of a social support network are examples of ______________ that can _____________ a person's resistance to stress and the negative effects that stress can cause.

Accepted Answer

Vulnerability factors are characteristics or conditions that increase an individual's susceptibility to negative outcomes. Poor coping skills and the lack of a social support network can decrease a person's resistance to stress and exacerbate the negative effects of stress, fitting the definition of vulnerability factors.

Question 9

A student has a good social support network, strong coping skills, and an optimistic personality. These characteristics make this student less vulnerable to the effects of stress and are best considered as examples of ________.

Accepted Answer

Protective factors are conditions or attributes in individuals, families, communities, or the larger society that help people deal more effectively with stressful events and mitigate or eliminate risk in families and communities. The student's good social support network, strong coping skills, and optimistic personality serve as buffers against stress, making them less vulnerable to its effects, thus fitting the definition of protective factors.

Question 10

Greater social support appears to be associated with fewer health problems because it affects ________.

Accepted Answer

Greater social support can enhance the immune system response, which helps in reducing health problems by improving the body's ability to fight off illness and recover from stress.

Question 11

A child who recently immigrated to Canada from a war-torn country where they lived in several refugee camps. Before arriving in Canada, the child witnessed many atrocities and was frequently worried about safety and the safety of their family. After immigrating, the child was constantly anxious during school and suffered from frequent nightmares. A school psychologist would most likely conclude that the child has ________.

Accepted Answer

The child's symptoms, including constant anxiety, frequent nightmares, and a history of witnessing atrocities and living in unsafe conditions, align with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is characterized by distressing memories, nightmares, and severe anxiety following exposure to traumatic events, which fits the child's experiences and reactions.

Question 12

Research suggests that higher levels of social support are ________.

Accepted Answer

Research consistently shows that higher levels of social support are associated with fewer health problems. Social support can provide emotional comfort, practical assistance, and information that can help individuals cope with stress and reduce the impact of stress on physical health.

Question 13

The factors that help people cope more effectively with stressful events are called _________ factors.

Accepted Answer

Protective factors are conditions or attributes in individuals, families, communities, or the larger society that help people deal more effectively with stressful events and mitigate or eliminate risk in families and communities.

Question 14

In a 30-year study of children who have experienced traumatic events, one factor that appeared to be common to all children who survived and thrived in very difficult situations was having ________.

Accepted Answer

Having at least one person who believed in them and provided social support is often cited as a critical factor in resilience among children who have experienced traumatic events. This consistent support can significantly impact their ability to cope and thrive despite adversity.

Question 15

Research examining the relation between stress and illness has revealed that stress appears to ________.

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that stress can have both immediate and long-term negative effects on health outcomes, affecting various aspects of physical and mental well-being.

Question 16

A review by House and his colleagues (1988) of studies conducted with almost 37,000 people living in the United States, Finland, and Sweden found that people with low levels of ______________ were twice as likely to die during the study. The relationship between this variable and health was __________ for men than it was for women.

Accepted Answer

Social support was the variable found to be associated with mortality rates in the study by House and his colleagues. The relationship between social support and health was found to be stronger for men than it was for women.

Question 17

Which of the following statements regarding stress and health is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Stress is known to be associated with negative health outcomes, and a significant body of research indicates that it can impair the functioning of the immune system, thereby affecting health.

Question 18

At age 18 years old, a person was in a serious car accident. Although the person made a full recovery from injuries, they experienced extreme anxiety afterwards. The person is now very anxious when driving, will not drive near the site of the accident, has nightmares about the accident, and flinches when they go through intersections. The person has symptoms suggestive of ________.

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described, such as extreme anxiety related to a traumatic event, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, nightmares, and heightened startle response, are indicative of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event, either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

Question 19

Research has shown that which of the following may serve to inoculate an individual against subsequent stressors?

Accepted Answer

Mild stressors early in life can help build resilience, making individuals better equipped to handle future stressors.

Question 20

Studies of soldiers who had been subjected to the horrors of war resulted in the creation of a psychological disorder called ____________________.

Accepted Answer

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was recognized as a result of studies on soldiers who had experienced intense trauma during war. It is characterized by severe anxiety, flashbacks, and uncontrollable thoughts about the traumatic event.

Quiz 15: Stress, Coping, and Health