Edexcel International A Level Psychology
Edexcel International A Level Psychology Health Psychology Exam Questions
Free Edexcel International A Level Psychology exam questions for Health Psychology, with a mark scheme for every pack. Covers the physiology of stress, factors affecting stress, coping strategies, treatments for anxiety, animal research and Brady (1958).
Health Psychology exam questions
1 question pack of real past exam questions, each with its mark scheme. Do not stop after a few: answer as many as you can without notes, then mark every answer with the mark scheme. The more questions you do, the more quickly you will spot how examiners ask about each idea.
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A-Level Psychology Flashcards for 2027 Onwards
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About Edexcel International A Level Psychology Health Psychology
Health psychology in Edexcel International A Level Psychology is an option in Unit 3, Applications of Psychology. It focuses on stress and anxiety: how the body responds to stress, what factors make stress worse or better, how people cope, and biological and psychological treatments for anxiety. Methods include the use of non-human animals in research and standardised questionnaires. The classic study is Brady (1958), the executive monkeys study, and contemporary research includes Nakonz and Shik (2009) on religious coping among migrant workers. Examiners ask you to describe the physiology of stress accurately, evaluate animal research and compare treatments for anxiety.
What you need to know
- Physiology of stress Acute stress activates the sympathetic nervous system and adrenal medulla, releasing adrenaline (fight or flight). Chronic stress activates the HPA axis: the hypothalamus releases CRH, the pituitary releases ACTH, and the adrenal cortex releases cortisol.
- Factors affecting stress Life events, daily hassles, workplace stress, personality and lack of control or social support all affect how stressed people feel.
- Coping strategies Problem-focused coping tackles the cause of stress; emotion-focused coping manages feelings. Social support and religious coping are also studied.
- Treating anxiety Biological treatments include anti-anxiety drugs such as benzodiazepines and beta-blockers. Psychological treatments include CBT and stress inoculation therapy.
- Classic study: Brady (1958) Pairs of monkeys received electric shocks; the executive monkey could press a lever to avoid shocks for both, while the yoked monkey had no control. Executive monkeys developed ulcers and died, suggesting the stress of responsibility caused ulcers.
- Methods Use of animals in research (including ethics and generalisation), standardised questionnaires such as stress scales, and evaluation of health research.
Common mistakes in Health Psychology
- Saying cortisol comes from the adrenal medulla; it is released by the adrenal cortex in the HPA response.
- Forgetting that Brady's executive monkeys were not randomly allocated, which is a key methodological criticism.
- Generalising directly from monkeys to humans without considering species differences.
- Confusing problem-focused and emotion-focused coping.
- Describing benzodiazepines as a long-term cure; they treat symptoms and risk dependence.
Try three Health Psychology exam-style questions
1. Describe the procedure of Brady's (1958) executive monkey study. (4 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Monkeys were placed in pairs in restraining chairs and given electric shocks; the executive monkey could press a lever to prevent shocks for both monkeys; the yoked control monkey had a lever that did nothing; the schedule was six hours on, six hours off; the monkeys that learned to press the lever fastest were made executives.
2. Outline the role of the HPA axis in the stress response. (3 marks)
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The hypothalamus releases CRH; this stimulates the pituitary gland to release ACTH into the bloodstream; ACTH causes the adrenal cortex to release cortisol, which provides energy but suppresses the immune system when stress is prolonged.
3. Explain one weakness of Brady's (1958) study. (2 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Executives were chosen because they learned to press the lever faster rather than being randomly allocated; so they may have been more emotional or reactive, which could explain the ulcers instead of the stress of responsibility.
Health Psychology FAQs
What does Edexcel International A Level Psychology Health psychology cover?
It covers the physiology of stress, factors affecting stress, coping strategies, biological and psychological treatments for anxiety, animal research and questionnaires, Brady (1958) and contemporary studies.
Which unit is Health psychology examined in?
Health psychology is an option in Unit 3, Applications of Psychology, chosen instead of Criminological psychology.
What are the main ethical issues in Health psychology research?
Animal studies like Brady's raise issues of harm and suffering, so you should be able to discuss the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement) and whether findings justify the costs.
