Free Bachelor of Health Science Health Psychology Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The following are the main goals of health psychology except:
- To Improve the Health care system and health policy
- To Prevent Illness
- To Help a Person Individually (Correct answer)
- To Promote Good Health
Correct answer: To Help a Person Individually
The main goals of health psychology are broad and systemic, focusing on preventing illness, promoting good health, and improving the healthcare system and policy. While health psychologists certainly help individuals, this is a *method* or *outcome* of their work, not a distinct *main goal* in the same category as the overarching objectives of the field. The field aims for population-level impact and systemic change.
Question 2: List three examples of healthy foods.
- eggs-cola-water
- pizza-cake-nuts
- vegetables-fruits-bread (Correct answer)
- cookies-grains-fish
Correct answer: vegetables-fruits-bread
Vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain bread are widely recognized as foundational components of a healthy diet. They provide essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and complex carbohydrates necessary for bodily functions and disease prevention. The other options include processed foods or less balanced combinations.
Question 3: Health psychology is a specialized area of research that focuses on studying the physiological factors that contribute to illness, how individuals cope with illness, and the determinants of overall health and well-being.
- TRUE
- FALSE (Correct answer)
- Maybe
- I don't know
Correct answer: FALSE
This statement is false. Health psychology primarily focuses on the *psychological* and *social* factors influencing health, illness, and well-being, rather than solely physiological factors. While it acknowledges the interplay with biological processes, its core contribution lies in understanding how thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and social environments impact health.
Question 4: Health is defined as a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.
- TRUE (Correct answer)
- FALSE
- Maybe
- None of these
Correct answer: TRUE
This statement is true and reflects the World Health Organization's (WHO) comprehensive definition of health. It emphasizes that health is not merely the absence of disease but a holistic state encompassing physical vitality, mental clarity, and positive social interactions. This broad perspective is central to fields like health psychology.
Question 5: Instead of concentrating on what helps people stay healthy, as the biological paradigm does, it focuses on what goes wrong.
- TRUE (Correct answer)
- FALSE
- Maybe
- None of these
Correct answer: TRUE
This statement is true and accurately describes the focus of the biomedical model (often referred to as the biological paradigm in this context). This model primarily concentrates on identifying and treating disease and pathology—what 'goes wrong' at a biological level—rather than proactively promoting health and well-being. Health psychology emerged partly to address this limitation by incorporating psychological and social factors.
Question 6: Why has health psychology expanded at such a rapid rate?
- Expanding the field of healthcare. (Correct answer)
- Increase in the chronic and lifestyle related diseases.
- The biomedical model which has dominated field of medicine. (Correct answer)
- None of the above
Correct answer: Expanding the field of healthcare.
The expansion of the healthcare field itself has created more opportunities and a greater demand for specialized areas like health psychology. As healthcare becomes more complex and holistic, the need to address the behavioral, psychological, and social aspects of health and illness becomes increasingly critical. This broader growth provides the context for health psychology's rapid development.
Question 7: Health psychologists have many responsibilities, one of which is the creation of workplace interventions to promote healthier behaviors among employees.
- TRUE (Correct answer)
- FALSE
- Maybe
- None of these
Correct answer: TRUE
This statement is true. Health psychologists apply their expertise in various settings, including workplaces, to design interventions that encourage healthier behaviors among employees. These interventions can address stress management, nutrition, physical activity, and smoking cessation, contributing to improved employee well-being and productivity.
Question 8: Professionals in the field of health psychology are equipped to assist patients in which of the following areas?
- Keeping healthy
- Preventing disease through stress management
- Avoiding or stopping risky behavior
- All of these (Correct answer)
Correct answer: All of these
Health psychology professionals are equipped to assist patients across a wide spectrum of health-related areas. This includes promoting general wellness, teaching stress management techniques to prevent disease, and helping individuals modify or cease risky behaviors. Their holistic approach addresses the psychological, social, and behavioral determinants of health.
Question 9: Who first said that health psychology is "the sum of the specific educational, scientific, and professional contributions of the discipline of psychology to the promotion and maintenance of health, the prevention and treatment of illness, and the identification of etiologic and diagnostic correlates of health, illness, and related dysfunction?"
- Bastien (1989)
- Marino and Gonzales-Portillo (2000)
- Johnston, Weinman and Chater (2011
- Matarazzo (1980) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Matarazzo (1980)
This comprehensive definition of health psychology is widely attributed to Joseph Matarazzo in 1980. His articulation helped establish the scope and mission of the field, highlighting its scientific, educational, and professional contributions to understanding and improving health. It remains a foundational statement for the discipline.
Question 10: Which of the following is one of the goals of health psychology?
- Who is responsible for health and illness, how illness should be treated and what is the relationship between the mind and body?
- What is the relationship between health and illness, and what is the role of psychology in this relationship?
- How can health be maintained and what causes illness?
- All of these (Correct answer)
Correct answer: All of these
Health psychology aims to answer fundamental questions about health and illness, encompassing all the listed options. It investigates the complex interplay between mind and body, the role of psychological factors in health and disease, and how health can be maintained. By addressing these questions, the field seeks to develop effective interventions and policies.
Question 11: Which is the most important part of health psychology?
- treatment
- policies
- physical illness
- mental health (Correct answer)
Correct answer: mental health
While health psychology takes a holistic biopsychosocial approach, mental health is a particularly central and important part of the field. Psychological factors, including mental well-being, significantly influence physical health, coping with illness, and adherence to medical treatments. Health psychologists often work to integrate mental and physical health care.
Question 12: What does Health Psychology focus on?
- The relationship between mental health and physical well-being.
- How social factors influence health and well-being.
- The promotion and maintenance of health, prevention and treatment of illness, and identification of health-related factors.
- All of the above (Correct answer)
Correct answer: All of the above
Health psychology adopts a comprehensive biopsychosocial perspective, focusing on all the listed aspects. It examines the intricate connections between mental health and physical well-being, the profound impact of social factors on health, and the overarching goals of promoting health, preventing illness, and identifying health-related determinants. This broad scope allows for a holistic understanding of health.
Question 13: In today's world, what function do health psychologists serve?
- Providing counseling and support to individuals with chronic diseases.
- Developing workplace interventions to promote employee well-being.
- Conducting research on the impact of lifestyle factors on health outcomes.
- All of the above (Correct answer)
Correct answer: All of the above
Health psychologists serve diverse and crucial functions in today's world. They provide direct counseling and support to individuals managing chronic diseases, design and implement interventions in workplaces to enhance employee well-being, and conduct vital research on how lifestyle choices affect health outcomes. Their work spans clinical practice, public health, and academic research.
Question 14: In the US, most deaths in 1900 were caused by _____, but most deaths today are caused by_________?
- Infectious diseases...chronic diseases (Correct answer)
- Pneumonia...cancer
- Chronic disease....cancer
- Cancer...alcohol-related causes
Correct answer: Infectious diseases...chronic diseases
This reflects a significant epidemiological transition. In 1900, infectious diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis were the leading causes of death due to poor sanitation and lack of vaccines. Today, chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, often linked to lifestyle factors, are the predominant causes of mortality in the US.
Question 15: Among US people aged 35 to 44, the top three causes of death are...
- Cancer, HIV infection, and pneumonia
- Unintentional injuries, cancer, and heart disease (Correct answer)
- Suicide, homicide, and HIV infection
- HIV infection, heart disease, and pneumonia
Correct answer: Unintentional injuries, cancer, and heart disease
For individuals aged 35 to 44 in the US, unintentional injuries (such as accidents), cancer, and heart disease are the top three causes of death. This demographic often faces risks associated with lifestyle, environment, and early onset of chronic conditions, highlighting the importance of prevention and early intervention.
Question 16: In the US, the death rate from heart disease has decreased during the previous 30 years. In the meantime,
- Smoking rates have increased
- Life expectancy has decreased
- Medical costs have increased (Correct answer)
- Acceptance of the biomedical model has increased
Correct answer: Medical costs have increased
While advancements in medical treatment, prevention strategies, and public health campaigns have significantly reduced heart disease mortality rates over the past three decades, these improvements have often come with increased medical costs. New technologies, medications, and complex procedures, though effective, contribute to rising healthcare expenditures.
Free Bachelor of Health Science Health Psychology Questions and Answers
The following are the main goals of health psychology except: