ch 11/13 psych

When Rachel completed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) her score, based on events during the previous year, was 350 life change units. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

It is not possible to make an accurate prediction about Rachel's future health because scores on the SRRS are only weakly correlated with the development of physical and psychological problems.

A number of problems with the life events approach have been identified. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

There is an inverse relationship between scores on the SRRS and physical and psychological problems; the higher the score, the lower the health risks, and vice versa

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

health psychology.

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.

stress

When Chris missed his connecting flight because of 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 _____.

stressor; stress

Which of the following is considered a life change event and is NOT an example of a daily hassle?

the cost of repairs to your car

Witnessing or surviving a violent attack and experiences associated with combat, warfare, or major disasters are examples of the types of events that are typically considered to be:

traumatic.

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:

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

One large survey of college students found that _____ percent reported having been exposed to a traumatic event during their lifetime.

85

During their third year at college, Tammy and Timothy both lost their part-time jobs in the library because of 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:

their respective cognitive appraisals of the event.

Dr. García and her colleagues have done extensive research into the effects of life events on health and well-being. She is MOST likely to conclude that:

undesirable events are significant sources of stress, but change in itself is not necessarily stressful.

Lisa and her husband John have both had a very stressful day at work. According to psychological research:

John is more likely to withdraw from contact with other family members.

According to The Social Readjustment Rating Scale shown in Table 13.1, which of the following life changes would receive the LOWEST number of life event units?

Marriage

Which of the following people developed the cognitive appraisal model of stress?

Richard Lazarus

Holmes and Rahe believed that any change that required you to adjust your behavior and lifestyle would cause stress. In an attempt to measure the amount of stress people experienced, they developed the:

Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS).

The Social Readjustment Rating Scale was an early attempt to quantify the amount of stress experienced by people in a wide range of situations. Who developed this test?

Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe

_____ are events or situations that are negative, severe, and far beyond our normal expectations for everyday life or life events.

Traumatic events

Researchers have investigated possible gender differences in the frequency of daily hassles. What does this research show?

Women experience more daily hassles and higher levels of stress associated with friends and family than men.

In September, Bryant started classes at State University. In December, he took a month-long vacation, during which he went back to his hometown to celebrate Christmas with his family. Based on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale shown in Table 13.1, which of the following answers shows how Sandy's readjustments would rank (from largest to smallest) in terms of life event units?

beginning school, vacation, Christmas

Early stress researchers Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe:

believed that any change that required a person to adjust his or her behavior or lifestyle would cause stress.

Dr. Mendez is a researcher who believes that physical and emotional health are affected by the complex interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Thus, Dr. Mendez tends to follow the _____ model in her research.

biopsychosocial

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

biopsychosocial

Suzanne feels overloaded at work and feels that she has a lack of control over her work environment. This has led to exhaustion, cynicism, and a sense of failure or inadequacy. It is likely that Suzanne is experiencing a phenomenon called:

burnout

When work stress is prolonged and becomes chronic, it can produce a stress response called:

burnout

According to Table 13.2, which of the following is NOT listed as a hassle on the College Daily Hassles Scale?

change to different line of work

People who must cope with crime, poverty, substandard housing, and unemployment in their everyday environment often experience:

chronic stress.

Which model of stress emphasizes the role of an individual's evaluation of events and situations and of the resources that he or she has available to deal with the event or situation?

cognitive appraisal model

Kathleen overslept, got caught in rush hour traffic, and was late for work. During lunch she spilled coffee on her clothes. When she left work that afternoon she got caught in a sudden downpour of rain. By the time she arrived home she felt drained, grumpy, and stressed out. Kathleen's present state is the result of the cumulative effect of:

daily hassles

_____ are everyday, minor events that annoy and upset people.

daily hassles

After her husband died last year, Sophia moved to a new city, started a new job, and returned to school part time after an absence of ten years. These major life events may create a ripple effect and generate a host of _____ that could significantly _____ Sophia's stress level.

daily hassles; increase

Carl has had a lot of readjustments in the last few months. First, he was fired from his job. Next, his home was foreclosed on, and then his wife filed for divorce. Based on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale shown in Table 13.1, which of the following answers shows how Carl's readjustments would rank (from largest to smallest) in terms of life event units?

divorce, fired at work, foreclosure

Dr. Gordon uses the biopsychosocial model to guide her research into how psychological factors influence health, illness, and treatment. Dr. Gordon is most likely a:

health psychologist.

When Angela goes to graduate school she wants to focus on how to promote health-enhancing behaviors, how psychological factors influence health and illness, and how people respond in the relationship between patient and health practitioner. Angela's interest is in:

health psychology.

According to research on gender differences in responding to stress, when they come home after a stressful day at work, fathers are more likely to _____ but mothers are more likely to _____.

initiate conflicts with or withdraw from family members; be more nurturing toward their children

People in the _____ socioeconomic levels of society tend to have the _____ levels of psychological distress, illness, and death.

lowest;highest

The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS):

measures acculturative stress.

In contrast to the conclusions reached by early stress researchers Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe, contemporary health psychologists now believe that:

most people weather major life events without developing severe physical or psychological problems.

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

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

Studies suggest that even in high-stress occupations or demanding work environments, burnout can be prevented. Which of the following option is LEAST likely to reduce the amount of burnout in a workplace?

passively accepting sedentary work assignments

Sandy has had a lot of readjustments in the past few months. First, she moved out of her parent's house and into residential housing at State University. Then, she started classes at State University. Three weeks later, she learned that she had become pregnant. Based on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale shown in Table 13.1, which of the following answers shows how Sandy's readjustments would rank (from largest to smallest) in terms of life event units?

pregnancy, beginning school, change in residence

Which of the following is NOT a key component of burnout?

sense of failure or inadequacy

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

stressors

Resilience refers to:

the ability to cope with stress and adversity, to adapt to negative or unforeseen circumstances, and to rebound after negative experiences

Cumulative adversity refers to

the total amount of negative events experienced over a lifetime.

Research shows that less than _____ percent of those who experience major disasters—such as floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes—develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

30

In terms of daily hassles, what sex differences have been found?

Daily hassles for men are most commonly related to school- and job-related issues, while daily hassles for women are most commonly due to family demands and interpersonal conflict.

According to the Social Readjustment Rating Scale shown in Table 13.1, which of the following life changes would receive the HIGHEST number of life event units?

Death of a spouse

_____ disorder involves intrusive thoughts of a traumatic event, emotional numbness, and symptoms of anxiety, such as nervousness, sleep disturbances, and irritability.

Posttraumatic stress

Which of the following is the BEST definition of stress?

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

Traumatic events are events or situations that

are negative, severe, and far beyond our normal expectations for everyday life