Test Bank For Health Psychology A Lifespan Approach Julie M. Gamble-Turner, Tara J. Cheetham-Blake Chapters 1-14 Chapter 1 1. Briefly describe how the field of health psyc hology is defined Ans: The British Psychological Society (BPS) Division of Health Psychology (DHP) defines the goal of health psychology as being the study of: ‘psychological processes underlying health, illness and health care, and to apply these findings to the promotion and maintenance of health, the analysis and improvement of the health care system and health policy formation, the prevention of illness and disability, and the enhancement of outcomes for those who are ill or disabled’. 2. Which model underpins health psychology? a. The biomedical model b. The biopsychosocial model c. The psychodynamic model d. The allopathic model Ans: B. The biopsychosocial model 3. The idea that the mind and body are connected is a 21st-century one True False Ans: False Mind-body connections have been believed and practised since the Stone Age: they are not new but have waxed, waned, evolved and developed over the centuries. 4. What was the essence of George Engel’s (1977) argument for the biopsychosocial model of health?
a. Individual differences in susceptibility and vulnerability to illness are not adequately explained by the biomedical model b. Stress causes illness c. Sociocultural factors are the main causes of illness d. Only psychosocial factors are important in health and illness Ans: A. Individual differences in susceptibility and vulnerability to illness are not adequately explained by the biomedical model. Note: Whilst stress, sociocultural factors and psychosocial factors are all key components of the biopsychosocial model, they relate to individual differences, which is the underlying premise: biological, psychological and social factors interact. 5. Name three applications of the biopsychosocial model Ans: Examples could include: Health promotion for alcohol reduction, smoking cessation, diet improvement, increase in exercise, encouragement of safer sexual practices Reduce stress, increase social support, develop coping strategies to improve psychological and physical health Reduce anxiety and depression to facilitate postoperative recovery Psychoeducational approaches to cancer care Pain reduction through psychological techniques 6. What is meant by the term health-related behaviours? a. Taking the right medication b. Diet and exercise c. Sleep d. Actions associated with promoting health, and preventing or reducing the risk of developing illness or preventing its exacerbation Ans: D
Actions associated with promoting health, and preventing or reducing the risk of developing illness or preventing its exacerbation. Note that A–C are some examples of health-related behaviours. 7. What is the difference between the term lifespan and the term lifecourse? a. Nothing, they mean the same b. One refers to the period of time from cradle to grave; the other to the path or trajectory that life takes c. One is a UK term, the other a US term d. One refers to children and adolescents, the other to older ages Ans: B One refers to the period of time from cradle to grave; the other to the path or trajectory that life takes 8. What is the best term for referring to a person aged in their 80s? a. A vicenarian b. A quinquagenarian c. A tricenarian d. An octogenarian Ans: D An octogenarian 9. Give three examples of a lifecourse rupture Ans: Examples of a lifecourse rupture could include pregnancy loss, divorce, occupational burnout, illness diagnosis or treatment 10. Health or being healthy means a person does not have physical symptoms of illness True False Ans: False
Health or being healthy is more than the absence of physical symptoms of illness. Health is ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’ (WHO, 1946). 11. What are health perceptions? a. How well a person looks b. What a person thinks is healthy c. The way an individual thinks and understands and the ideas and beliefs they hold about illness and health d. The realisation that life might not always go as planned Ans: C The way an individual thinks and understands and the ideas and beliefs they hold about illness and health 12. What disease or condition is the most significant cause of death globally? a. Road traffic collisions b. Diabetes c. Ischaemic heart disease d. Dementias including Alzheimer’s disease Ans: C Ischaemic heart disease
Chapter 2: Key concepts in lifespan health psychology 1. Can you name three indices that are used to measure a person’s socioeconomic status? Ans: Three indices that are used to measure a person’s socioeconomic status are educational level, income, employment status/occupation 2. Which of the following two statements describe the central argument of social causation theory? a. People with poorer health drift into positions of lower social rank
b. People of lower social rank have worse health because of their weaker position in the social hierarchy Ans: B People of lower social rank have worse health because of their weaker position in the social hierarchy. 3. Which two key factors act as mechanisms to drive the link between income and health? a. Genetics b. Housing c. Health-related behaviours d. Stress Ans: C and D Health-related behaviours and stress 4. Which type of SES is linked most strongly with health outcomes? a. Subjective SES b. Objective SES Ans: A Subjective SES 5. Which of the following is a secondary determinant of the social gradient? a. Age b. Social support c. Gender d. Household income Ans: B Social support. The other three are considered primary determinants of the social gradient. 6. What was the Whitehall II study? a. A cross-sectional study about exercise and health