Stress & Coping MCAT Practice Question
A 42-year-old male factory worker presents to his primary care physician with persistent anxiety, insomnia, and tension headaches lasting 6 months. He reports working 50 hours per week with inconsistent scheduling and no health insurance. His college-educated colleague performs identical job duties but reports minimal stress and normal sleep. The patient states, 'I worry constantly about paying rent and affording my daughter's medications. My coworker doesn't have these concerns.' On examination, vital signs show elevated blood pressure (148/92 mmHg) and resting heart rate of 92 bpm. Which of the following stress concepts best explains why this patient experiences significantly greater psychological distress despite having equivalent occupational demands as his colleague?
Answer choices
- ARelative deprivation and chronic strain from persistent financial insecurityCorrect answer
- BFundamental attribution error leading to self-blame for work-related difficulties
- CJust-world hypothesis causing guilt about socioeconomic disadvantage
- DStereotype threat activating negative performance expectations based on social identity
- ESocial facilitation impairing cognitive function in high-stress environments
- FDeindividuation reducing personal accountability and increasing reckless health behaviors
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