CRP Stress Management & Coping Strategies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which physiological response is most directly associated with the activation of the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis during chronic stress?
- Elevated cortisol levels (Correct answer)
- Increased serotonin production
- Reduced adrenaline secretion
- Decreased heart rate variability
Correct answer: Elevated cortisol levels
Chronic stress activates the HPA axis, leading to sustained elevation of cortisol, the primary glucocorticoid stress hormone.
Question 2: A resilience professional is designing a workplace stress intervention. Which approach best exemplifies tertiary prevention?
- Installing ergonomic workstations
- Offering stress awareness workshops
- Providing EAP counseling to burned-out employees (Correct answer)
- Reducing overtime policies
Correct answer: Providing EAP counseling to burned-out employees
Tertiary prevention addresses individuals already experiencing significant stress or burnout, such as through Employee Assistance Program counseling.
Question 3: In Lazarus and Folkman's transactional model of stress, 'secondary appraisal' refers to:
- Evaluating how threatening a stressor is
- Assessing available coping resources and options (Correct answer)
- Identifying the source of the stressor
- Comparing current stress to past experiences
Correct answer: Assessing available coping resources and options
Secondary appraisal involves evaluating what coping options are available and how effective they might be in addressing the stressor.
Question 4: Which coping strategy involves reframing a stressful situation to find positive meaning or silver linings?
- Avoidance coping
- Positive reappraisal (Correct answer)
- Rumination
- Venting
Correct answer: Positive reappraisal
Positive reappraisal is a cognitive coping strategy that involves reframing a stressor in a more positive or meaningful light.
Question 5: The 'window of tolerance' concept in stress management refers to:
- The maximum workload before performance drops
- The optimal arousal zone where a person can function effectively (Correct answer)
- The time frame to recover from acute stress
- The threshold before stress becomes traumatic
Correct answer: The optimal arousal zone where a person can function effectively
The window of tolerance describes the optimal zone of arousal within which a person can process information and function effectively without being overwhelmed.
Question 6: Which technique specifically targets the physiological stress response by activating the vagus nerve?
- Cognitive restructuring
- Diaphragmatic breathing (Correct answer)
- Task prioritization
- Social comparison
Correct answer: Diaphragmatic breathing
Diaphragmatic (deep belly) breathing stimulates the vagus nerve, activating the parasympathetic nervous system and reducing the stress response.
Question 7: In organizational resilience, 'stress contagion' refers to:
- Physical transmission of stress-related illness
- Spread of stress responses through social and emotional channels (Correct answer)
- Rapid escalation of workload across teams
- Contagious enthusiasm that reduces stress
Correct answer: Spread of stress responses through social and emotional channels
Stress contagion describes how stress responses can spread from person to person through emotional and social mirroring within groups.
CRP Stress Management & Coping Strategies 2
Which physiological response is most directly associated with the activation of the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis during chronic stress?