Health Psychology

Question 1

Biopsychosocial model

Answer 1

how social, biomedical, and psychological factors affect physical health
- many physical illnesses are the result of the complex interplay of these factors

Question 2

Cohen Experiment

Answer 2

volunteers infected with cold virus - completed measures of stress
- more stress –> higher chance of having a cold (usually 2-4% difference)

Question 3

Holt-Lunstad

Answer 3

social isolation increases mortality rates
- as much as smoking more than obesity and lack of exercise

Question 4

Cohen study

Answer 4

social ties help because of emotional support

Question 5

Pennebaker study

Answer 5

writing about emotions/traumatic events can boost your immune system

Question 6

wealth and happiness

Answer 6

wealth doesn’t change or increase happiness (no positive correlation shown)

Question 7

biological factors

Answer 7

genetic background (eg congenital defects), physiology - neurochemistry, metabolism, food/ environmental triggers/allergens

Question 8

psychological factors

Answer 8

• cognition - learning/memory, coping skills, knowing your body
• emotion - attitudes/beliefs - positive emotions –> better health
• motivation - internal, external

Question 9

social factors

Answer 9

social support, family background, cultural traditions, social/economic status, education

Question 10

Marucha experiment

Answer 10

students given puncture wound in mouth
- given mid-summer took 7.82 days to heal
- given three days before first major exam took 10.91 days to heal

Question 11

Types of Stress

Answer 11

Eustress & Distress

Question 12

Eustress

Answer 12

“good” stressor motivating you to make change, helps to achieve homeostasis (eg moving into the shade)

Question 13

Distress

Answer 13

“bad” stress, uncontrollable or inescapable exposure to stressors, can lead to allostasis
- distant, chronic, acute

Question 14

Types of distress

Answer 14

• distant - trauma occurred in past but continues to affect
• chronic - usually do not have an end in sight, currently experiencing
• acute - has an end in sight and can range in severity

Question 15

how body affects brain & vice versa

Answer 15

Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis (HPA) releases stress hormones
- dysregulated in individuals experiencing chronic stress
- can suppress immune system

Question 16

stressful events and health

Answer 16

• event –> threat –> stressed to distraction
• event –> challenge –> aroused, focused

Question 17

General Adaptation Syndrome

Answer 17

• Phase 1 - alarm reaction (mobilize resources)
• Phase 2 - resistance (cope with stressor), temperature and BP increase, breathing hard
• Phase 3 - exhaustion (reserved depleted) more vulnerable to illness