Stress & Coping MCAT Practice Question
A 38-year-old emergency medicine physician has worked at a busy urban hospital for 8 years. Over the past 6 months, he has experienced progressive emotional exhaustion, finds himself treating patients with detachment, and feels his clinical work lacks meaningful impact. He reports working 60+ hours weekly with only 1 day off, managing a 1:4 nurse-to-patient ratio in the ED, and minimal time for peer discussion or mentorship. His sleep and exercise have declined. He denies substance use or suicidal ideation but acknowledges considering leaving medicine entirely. Which of the following occupational stress models best explains the relationship between his work environment and current presentation?
Answer choices
- ADemand-control model, which predicts high strain when high job demands are paired with low job control
- BJob demands-resources model, which explains burnout as resulting from imbalanced job demands, inadequate resources, and insufficient recovery opportunitiesCorrect answer
- CGeneral Adaptation Syndrome, which describes a three-stage physiologic response to any stressor regardless of occupational context
- DEffort-reward imbalance model, which focuses primarily on monetary compensation relative to workload
- EYerkes-Dodson law, which predicts optimal job performance occurs at moderate stress levels with declining performance at extremes
- FSocial identity theory, which explains how group membership influences stress perception and coping mechanisms
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