Question 1

Peterson et al. (1988) presented evidence for a link between pessimism and _____.

Accepted Answer

Peterson et al. (1988) found evidence suggesting that pessimism is associated with increased illness and mortality, highlighting the potential negative health impacts of a pessimistic outlook.

Question 2

Ten-year-old Edward has just started at a new school where the children make fun of his rural background and accent. He is also being bullied by one of the other children in his new neighbourhood. In spite of all this, Edward is able to focus on his personal strengths: He is smart and has always been able to make friends, has a family who loves him, and his new school has special classes for children like him who are gifted in the arts. Thanks to the _____________ in Edward's life, he is able to overcome the challenges of his childhood and grow into a happy and successful man.

Accepted Answer

Protective factors, such as personal strengths, family support, and special classes, help Edward overcome challenges and contribute to his resilience and positive development.

Question 3

Victor Frankl was a Jewish psychiatrist incarcerated in Auschwitz during the Holocaust. After his release, he wrote a book called Man's Search for Meaning that addressed the importance of hope for survival. The prisoners who found meaning in their suffering or clung to the hope that they would see family again were more likely to survive the atrocious conditions than those who did not have these

Accepted Answer

Frankl's observations highlight "protective factors," which are conditions or attributes that help people deal more effectively with stressful events and mitigate or eliminate risk in families and communities, thereby increasing the chances of a positive outcome. In this context, finding meaning in suffering or maintaining hope acted as protective factors that increased the likelihood of survival in the concentration camps.

Question 4

Which of the following would be most appropriate for measuring recent life stress in an individual?

Accepted Answer

A life event scale is specifically designed to measure the amount of life stress an individual has experienced recently by quantifying the impact of various life events.

Question 5

Robert Baron et al. (1990) compared two groups of people whose spouses were being treated for cancer: one that self-reported a having a high level of social support, the other a low level. They found evidence that the group who reported a high level of social support _____.

Accepted Answer

The study by Robert Baron et al. (1990) found that individuals with high levels of social support had better immune system function, highlighting the positive impact of social support on physical health.

Question 6

Viggo needs to take an extended leave of absence from work for personal reasons. The remaining employees are required to perform Viggo's duties, and Dewitt is the only one who understands how to do many of them. Though Dewitt's body is unable to maintain the alarmed state it entered when he learned of the additional work, he remains stressed out over the weeks that follow. If the stressor of additional responsibility lasts too long, Dewitt could become sick and have trouble functioning himself. This is the _____________ stage of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS).

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS), which describes the body's long-term reaction to stress when it can no longer cope, potentially leading to burnout, illness, and decreased function.

Question 7

Which of the following would not be considered a stressor?

Accepted Answer

Stressors are external events or situations that cause stress, such as an exam, being fired, or unexpected bills. Your response to unexpected news is not a stressor itself but rather your internal reaction to a stressor.

Question 8

At 50, Keket has a heart attack. Her physician warns her that if she doesn't take a more laid-back approach to life and her work, she will die. Because her recovery takes significantly longer than she told her employer it would, she loses her job. Rather than seeing this as an opportunity to find a job she enjoys, Keket harbours resentment and hostility toward her former coworkers and boss. Based on this information, Keket's heart attack was probably due to

Accepted Answer

Keket's heart attack is likely due to a Type A behavior pattern, characterized by competitiveness, urgency, hostility, and an intense approach to work and life, which are risk factors for heart disease.

Question 9

Inga and Neil are scheduled to move into their new house tomorrow, but their realtor calls to tell them that the previous owners turned off the heat, which caused several of the water pipes to burst. Since the house is temporarily uninhabitable, Inga and Neil decide that they can put their belongings in storage and stay with Neil's parents while the repairs are made. They ask the realtor to arrange repairs at the previous owner's expense. Inga and Neil have employed

Accepted Answer

Inga and Neil are directly addressing the problem by finding temporary housing and arranging for repairs, which is characteristic of problem-focused coping strategies. They are taking practical steps to manage the stressful situation.

Question 10

While taking a university health class, Eugene learns that children of alcoholics often have trouble forming healthy and lasting relationships with other people. Eugene recognizes himself in the pattern of behaviours displayed by these children and decides that he wants to seek help. He asks his professor for a referral and she suggests Al-Anon, a support group for children of alcoholics. Encouraged, Eugene both begins attending Al-Anon meetings and makes an appointment to see a therapist. Eugene is

Accepted Answer

Eugene is seeking social support by attending Al-Anon meetings and seeing a therapist to address his issues related to being a child of an alcoholic. This demonstrates his effort to find help and support from others who understand his situation or can provide professional guidance.

Question 11

Viggo needs to take an extended leave of absence from work for personal reasons. The remaining employees are required to perform Viggo's duties, and Dewitt is the only one who understands how to do many of them. Though Dewitt's body is unable to maintain the alarmed state it entered when he learned of the additional work, he remains stressed out over the weeks that follow. He hopes Viggo will return before he becomes truly overwhelmed. Dewitt is in the ______________ stage of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS).

Accepted Answer

Dewitt is in the resistance stage of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS), as he has moved past the initial alarm reaction to Viggo's absence and is now coping with the ongoing stress of his increased workload, trying to adapt to the stressor over time.

Question 12

Which of the following symptoms is not associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

Accepted Answer

All of the symptoms listed (avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, anxiety, flashbacks, and survivor guilt) are indeed associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), making option E correct. PTSD is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event, either experiencing it or witnessing it, and these symptoms are part of the diagnostic criteria.

Question 13

Langdon's test anxiety is so severe that he often cannot answer a single question on an exam. His therapist teaches him a technique in which he sits in a chair, closes his eyes, and systematically tenses different parts of his body and then relaxes them while telling himself to be calm. This approach is called

Accepted Answer

The technique described is known as relaxation training, specifically progressive muscle relaxation, where individuals tense and then relax different muscle groups in sequence while focusing on calming thoughts. This method is often used to reduce anxiety and stress.

Question 14

A student who is a compulsive drinker, is in therapy to treat themselves of this problem. The counsellor helps the student set specific goals by helping them select a behaviour-change strategy that would work for her. The counsellor is employing ___________.

Accepted Answer

Motivational interviewing is a counseling approach that helps individuals find the motivation to make positive decisions and accomplish their goals. It involves collaboration between the counselor and the individual to set specific goals and work towards them, which is what the counselor is doing in this scenario.

Question 15

Raven is a self-described worrywart. In any given situation, she worries that she will make an embarrassing mistake and others will laugh at her. Her worries lead her to stay home as much as possible and avoid meeting or dealing with new people. Raven's new therapist explains that she would like her to begin a program of light exercise, yoga and meditation, and some social skills exercises so that Raven can work on her anxiety at several levels. She wants Raven to record her activities and feelings in a journal. Her therapist seems to be advising a

Accepted Answer

The therapist's recommendation for Raven to engage in a combination of light exercise, yoga, meditation, social skills exercises, and journaling to address her anxiety on multiple levels is indicative of a multimodal treatment approach. This approach integrates various therapeutic techniques and activities to address the different aspects of a person's condition.

Question 16

Inga and Neil are scheduled to move into their new house tomorrow, but their realtor calls to tell them that the previous owners turned off the heat, which caused several of the water pipes to burst. Since the house is temporarily uninhabitable, Inga and Neil decide that they can put their belongings in storage and stay with Neil's parents while the repairs are made. They ask the realtor to arrange repairs at the previous owner's expense. Though they are disappointed that they won't be able to entertain for the holidays, they know they will be able to do it next year. By assessing their resources to cope with the situation, Neil and Inga have engaged in a

Accepted Answer

Inga and Neil's assessment of their resources to cope with the situation is an example of secondary appraisal. This involves evaluating what can be done to manage or change a stressful situation after recognizing it as stressful (primary appraisal).

Question 17

Summer would eventually like to quit smoking, because the habit is both costly and she knows it is bad for her health. Since all of her friends smoke, she tells herself that right now quitting would take too much effort. Summer is in the ____________________ stage of the transtheoretical model.

Accepted Answer

Summer is in the contemplation stage of the transtheoretical model because she is aware of the pros of quitting smoking (cost and health) but is also considering the cons (effort due to her social circle), indicating she is thinking about change but has not yet committed to making any.

Question 18

Which of these structures has been found to be underactive in those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when processing emotional information?

Accepted Answer

The anterior cingulate cortex is known to be underactive in individuals with PTSD when processing emotional information. This area of the brain is involved in emotion regulation, decision-making, and cognitive control, all of which can be affected in PTSD.

Question 19

Surveys conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health have revealed that approximately _________ of college students engage in binge drinking, but only ___________ of them viewed themselves as having a problem with alcohol.

Accepted Answer

Approximately 45% of college students engage in binge drinking, but only about 1% of them viewed themselves as having a problem with alcohol, highlighting a significant perception gap regarding their drinking behavior.

Question 20

Which of these suggestions will you NOT give to Peter, to help him maintain and enhance personal happiness?

Accepted Answer

Engaging in enjoyable activities is actually beneficial for personal happiness, as it can reduce stress, improve mental health, and enhance overall well-being. Therefore, suggesting not to waste time on enjoyable activities contradicts the goal of maintaining and enhancing personal happiness.

Quiz 15: Stress, Coping, and Health