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Biology and Health The following are features of the pituitary-adrenal system and the sympathomedullary pathway. Tick the boxes next to three features of the sympathomedullary pathway. (3 marks) Noradrenaline Pituitary gland Adrenal cortex Adrenal medulla Sympathetic nervous system
You are a passenger in a car that has suddenly slammed on its brakes to avoid hitting a dog. Your breathing quickens, your mouth is dry and you have a feeling of ‘butterflies’ in your stomach. But after a few minutes these physical changes start to disappear. Using your knowledge of the body’s response to stress, explain why you are likely to have experienced: (a) the changes that occurred in the first 30 seconds; (2 marks) (b) the changes that occurred after a few minutes (2 marks)
Outline the main features of the pituitary-adrenal system. (3 marks)
Sandy and Vandita play for the same netball team. Two weeks ago, while playing in a competition, they both grazed their elbows. Vandita’s wound is healing well, but Sandy’s wound is taking much longer to heal. Sandy is very worried about the plans for her wedding and her forthcoming house move. Using your knowledge of psychology, explain why Sandy’s wound is taking longer to heal than Vandita’s. (4 marks)
During the last few months, Paula has suffered from headaches and colds, and has been having difficulty sleeping. She decided to keep a diary and found that her headaches, colds and sleep problems were associated with experiences such as having too much homework, losing house keys and being stuck in traffic.
(a) What is the name for these sorts of stress-related experiences? (1 mark) (b) Use your knowledge of psychology to explain why Paula might be feeling unwell. (4 marks)
A doctor has been given a new drug to test, which is intended to help boost the immune system and help prevent people from getting colds. How have psychologists investigated the relationship between stress and the immune system? (4 marks)
Causes of Stress and Personality (a) Outline what is meant by Type A behaviour. (2 marks) (b) Outline a method used by psychologists to assess whether someone shows behaviour. (2 marks)
Psychologists have found that the physical environment (eg noise and heat) can be a source of stress in the workplace. Apart from the physical environment, outline two other sources of stress in the workplace. (2 marks and 2 marks)
Mr Harris is about to move his business into a brand new building. He is very keen to create a healthy working environment and reduce workplace stress. In this way, he hopes to improve productivity and reduce absenteeism. What advice would you give Mr Harris? Use your knowledge of psychological research in this area. (6 marks)
Angela and David both work as city lawyers. David is always in a rush, often snapping at his secretary and blaming her when things go wrong. He seems to be suffering from stress. Angela.s job is just as demanding but she copes well, always seems very positive and, in spite of long hours, makes time to meet her friends after work. With reference to the scenario above, outline factors that have been found to affect responses to stress. (6 marks) Describe personality factors that have been shown to influence the way people respond to stress. (5 marks) Discuss psychological evidence that suggests personality can affect our experience of stress. (6 marks)
Stress Management Explain how emotion-focused approaches differ from problem-focused methods of coping with stress (4 marks) Outline the use of drugs in the control of stress. (4 marks) In response to rising stress levels in the local population, a Health Service Provider was keen to provide stress management techniques as part of the treatments they offered. One technique that was introduced involved helping a client to identify his/her negative, irrational thoughts and to replace them with more positive, rational methods of thinking. The therapist helps a client to understand better where their faulty thinking is leading, by the client and therapist working together using role play so that the consequences of the faulty thinking can be plainly seen. New goals are then set for the client, so that more realistic and rational beliefs are included into his/her ways of thinking. (a) (i) Identify the stress management strategy outlined above. (1 mark) (a) (ii) Explain one reason why this stress management technique could prove to be effective. (2 marks) (b) Explain one limitation of the stress management technique described above. (2marks)
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Stress and Research Methods In a study of stress, the stress and blood pressure of participants were measured. Data from the study were plotted on the graph below.
Outline what the graph seems to show about stress and blood pressure, and explain difficulties in drawing conclusions from this data. (4 marks)
One measure of the functioning of the immune system is the level of activity of white blood cells. What does the graph below tell you about the relationship between stress and the level of activity of white blood cells? (6 marks)
(b) Outline one strength and one weakness of using correlations in stress research. (2 marks and 2 marks)
Questionnaires have often been used in stress research to measure the impact of life changes on health. Outline one advantage and one disadvantage of using questionnaires in stress research. (3 marks and 3 marks)
Essay style questions (worth 8, 10 or 12 marks) To what extent does research (theories and/or studies) show a relationship between stress and physical illness?
To what extent does research suggest a link between stress and the immune system?
Discuss research into the relationship between stress and cardiovascular disorders.
‘Life changes, even if they are positive, are always a source of stress. To what extent have life changes been shown to be a source of stress?
‘A major source of stress is the sense of not being in control.’ Evaluate the role of control in the perception of stress.
‘Stress in the workplace will become the epidemic of the 21st century.’ Evaluate the contribution of two or more factors to stress in the workplace.
Outline and evaluate research into the way in which personality modify the effects of stressors.
Consider the extent to which individual differences may modify the effects of stressors.
Discuss the emotion-focused approach to coping with stress. (8 marks)
Discuss the use of drugs to manage the negative effects of stress. (8 marks)
Discuss one or more physiological methods of stress management. (10 marks)
‘To be effective, stress management techniques must target both the psychological and physical aspects of stress.’ Consider the effectiveness of physiological approaches to stress management.
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