Stress & illness - Practice questions

STRESS AND ILLNESS – Practice questions

Knowledge questions

1. Outline the effects of stress on the immune system? (6 marks)
2. How have psychologists studied the effects of stress on the immune system? (6)

(which means ...outline the procedures of one or more study/ies into the effects of
stress on the immune system)
3. What have psychologists found about the effects of stress on the immune system? (6)
(which means …outline the findings of one or more study/ies into the effect of stress on
the immune system)
4. Give two criticisms of research into the effects of stress on the immune system (3+3)
(which means … outline 2 evaluation points for 3 marks each)

Advice:
For these questions you simply need to identify what the question is asking and write it
down.
Highlight the keywords only.
Use the number of marks available to help you know how much to write – as a rule of
thumb, expect to write 25-30 words per mark (150w for these 6 mark questions, and 400-
500w for a 16 mark essay)
Remember to PEEL – state your Point, Explain it and give an Example or Elaborate it.

Student’s Answer

What have psychologists found about the effects of stress on the immune system? (6)

Kiecolt-Glaser et al (1984) found that in the high stress blood samples from 1st year medical

students taken on the first day of exams, there were fewer Natural Killer (T) cells than in the

low stress sample taken a month before the exams started even when loneliness was taken

into account, showing that their immune systems had become suppressed as a result of the

stress. This left them vulnerable to bacteria and viruses increasing their chance of becoming

ill. In their 1995 study into the effects of stress in people caring for relatives with dementia,

Kiecolt-Glaser et al found that a punch biopsy wound took 9 days longer to heal in the

carers than the (low stressed) controls, they had higher levels of cytokines (a stress

hormone) in their urine and they described themselves as more stressed than the controls in

a self-report measure of perceived stress. The slow wound healing ias a result of a poorly

functioning immune system. (160 w)

Comment:

An excellent answer focused on the question (findings only) which is both accurate and
detailed. Two studies are given as either one would not have been sufficient for 6 marks.
6/6

Give two criticisms of research into the effects of stress on the immune system (3+3)

One criticism is that much research involves natural experiments in order to apply the
findings to real life situations, but they therefore lack control. This means that although
stress might be one factor in reducing the effectiveness of the immune system, there are
many extraneous variables which might also have an effect. For example, in the run-up to
exams, students may not have time to eat as healthily as normal and it may be the lack of
vitamins and a balanced diet that causes immunosuppression.

Secondly, while some research shows that stress is associated with immunosuppression,

other studies found that short-term stress actually improves immune system functioning.

This means that some stress may in fact protect us against illness instead of being

detrimental. For example, Evans (1994) found that while exam stress lasting a few weeks

led to decreased levels of IgA in participants, a short period of stress (giving a presentation

to peers) actually increased IgA levels. (158 w)

Comment:

Another excellent answer. Two different criticisms are given, clearly explained and an
example used to elaborate the point and explain why it is a criticism. Note the clear layout
separating the two criticisms which makes it easy for the student to know how far they’ve
got, and for the examiner to mark. 6/6

Application questions

5. John has visited his doctor complaining of recurrent colds. He also feels very tired, but
despite this, sometimes has trouble sleeping. He explained to the doctor that he is under
pressure at work and he often feels irritable, which leads to arguments with his wife.
Use your knowledge of the effects of stress on the body and the immune system to
explain John’s experiences (4)

6. A teacher has fallen ill with a cold by the third week of September. She found the start
of term very busy and tiring. Use your knowledge of the immune system to explain why
the teacher may have fallen ill (4)

Advice:
Firstly, highlight the keywords so you know what you have to do: which topic is it? What do
you have to do to answer the question?
Underline words/phrases in the text that you can refer to to illustrate your point – in this
case, why John might have recurrent colds.
Use the number of marks available to help you know how much to write – for a 4 mark
question, you need about 100 words.
Make your point using your knowledge, then illustrate it by quoting phrases from the stem.

Student’s Answer

John has visited his doctor complaining of recurrent colds. He also feels very tired, but
despite this, sometimes has trouble sleeping. He explained to the doctor that he is under
pressure at work and he often feels irritable, which leads to arguments with his wife.
Use your knowledge of the effects of stress on the body and the immune system to explain
John’s experiences (4)

Research such as Kiecolt-Glaser (1984) has shown that periods of stress can lead to
immunosuppression because high levels of cortisol cause the thymus gland to shrink and
therefore produce fewer T cells. Since T cells produce B cells, stress can lead to a reduction
in both, leaving the body vulnerable to viruses and bacteria. John is experiencing stress at
work and the resulting arguments with his wife and lack of sleep make the stress worse.
John is likely to have low levels of T and B cells and a poorly functioning immune system, so
whenever he comes into contact with someone with a cold, he is unable to fight it off.
(111 w)

Comment:
The student has correctly identified the requirements of the question – explain how stress
can cause immunosuppression – and applied the knowledge to John’s situation explicitly and
in the context of the stem. 4/4

Essay questions

7. Discuss the relationship between stress and the immune system (16)
8. Outline and evaluate research into the effects of stress on the immune system (16)
9. To what extent does research support that idea that stress causes illness? (16)

Advice:
Highlight the keywords so you know which topic the essay refers to.
Think about where the A01 marks will come from in the question: Qu 8 here asks for an
outline of the research, while Qu 7 asks you to outline the relationship. Qu 9 asks for an
outline of one side of the debate (e.g. research does support the link) and the evaluation
here would come from putting the opposite point of view (i.e. stress doesn’t cause illness).
In the box provided, jot down the key study you will use, plus any other research that either
supports or contradicts it. Note you should aim for one key study and 2 others – no more
than 3 in total.
Always PEEL – Point, Explain, Example/elaborate and Link back to the question.
Use the number of marks available to help you know how much to write – for a 16 mark
essay, you need about 400-500 words and you should allow 20 mins.
Your outline should be no more than 40% of your essay (6 marks A01, and 10 marks A02).
You should aim for 4 evaluation points, all explicitly related to the question.
Use specific terminology in every essay – vital for top band marks.

Research Methods questions

10. Explain why research into stress and the immune system can be criticised as lacking
validity (4)

11.

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