Understanding Stress: Impacts on Health and Coping Mechanisms

1. What is stress? What are the factors that determine how we experience potentially stressful events?

A mental condition caused by excessive workload and lack of sleep.

An illness that affects only certain individuals due to genetic factors.

A state of tranquility and peace of mind.

Stress is not just caused by workload and lack of sleep, it is a broader concept. It is not necessarily a state of tranquility or an illness based on genetic factors.

Explanation

Stress is not just caused by workload and lack of sleep, it is a broader concept. It is not necessarily a state of tranquility or an illness based on genetic factors.

2. What are the 3 general types of categories of stressful life events?

1. Happy Occasions 2. Neutral Experiences 3. Routine Tasks

1. Catastophic Events 2. Life Changing Events3. Daily Hassles

Stressful life events generally fall into the categories of catastrophic events, life-changing events, and daily hassles. Happy occasions, neutral experiences, and routine tasks are not typically categorized as sources of stress.

Explanation

Stressful life events generally fall into the categories of catastrophic events, life-changing events, and daily hassles. Happy occasions, neutral experiences, and routine tasks are not typically categorized as sources of stress.

3. What are the goals of behavioral medicine and health psychology?

Bm GOAL: emphasizing medication over behavioral interventionshp GOAL: disregarding the impact of psychology on physical health

Bm GOAL: focusing on physical health onlyhp GOAL: not relevant to overall health outcomes

Bm GOAL: studying animal behavior in medical settingshp GOAL: studying psychological processes in maintaining health

Behavioral medicine and health psychology are interdisciplinary fields that aim to apply behavioral, medical, and psychological knowledge to promote health and well-being. The goals include understanding how behavior impacts health, developing interventions to improve health outcomes, and integrating psychological principles into medical treatment.

Explanation

Behavioral medicine and health psychology are interdisciplinary fields that aim to apply behavioral, medical, and psychological knowledge to promote health and well-being. The goals include understanding how behavior impacts health, developing interventions to improve health outcomes, and integrating psychological principles into medical treatment.

4. How does stress influence the immune system?

Stress only affects physical health, not the immune system.

Stress has no impact on the immune system.

Stress boosts the immune system and improves overall health.

Stress can have a significant impact on the immune system by suppressing lymphocytes and making an individual more susceptible to illness. This can worsen the progress of diseases like AIDS and Cancer.

Explanation

Stress can have a significant impact on the immune system by suppressing lymphocytes and making an individual more susceptible to illness. This can worsen the progress of diseases like AIDS and Cancer.

5. What are some of the major factors that can reduce or help us cope with stress? In particular, what is biofeedback, and what is meant by social support?

Ignoring stress altogether - avoiding stressors without addressing them can lead to increased anxiety and health issues.

Listening to loud music - it can distract from stress temporarily, but does not address the root causes.

Eating comfort food - while it can provide temporary relief, it does not promote long-term stress management.

The incorrect answers listed either provide temporary relief but do not address long-term stress management (listening to loud music, eating comfort food), or suggest avoiding stress without addressing it, which can lead to increased anxiety and health issues (ignoring stress altogether). The correct answer focuses on aerobic exercise, biofeedback, and social support as effective strategies for reducing and coping with stress.

Explanation

The incorrect answers listed either provide temporary relief but do not address long-term stress management (listening to loud music, eating comfort food), or suggest avoiding stress without addressing it, which can lead to increased anxiety and health issues (ignoring stress altogether). The correct answer focuses on aerobic exercise, biofeedback, and social support as effective strategies for reducing and coping with stress.

6. How might spirituality and religious practice help us cope with stress? In particular, what are some of the important correlates to religious activity that might explain the beneficial effects on health?

Religious practices involve mind-control techniques that eliminate stress

Religion guarantees a stress-free life with no challenges

Religious individuals have superhuman powers that protect them from stress

The correct answer highlights the role of community, social support, healthy behaviors, and positive emotions in coping with stress and improving health outcomes associated with religious activity.

Explanation

The correct answer highlights the role of community, social support, healthy behaviors, and positive emotions in coping with stress and improving health outcomes associated with religious activity.

7. What is alternative medicine? Why should one be cautious about believing the health claims of alternative medicine?

Natural remedies that are always safer and more effective than traditional medicine.

Health treatments that have been rigorously tested and proven to be effective.

Alternative medicine that is supported by all medical professionals.