Question

________ has been shown to have a beneficial role in preventing stress-related health problems, minimizing stress on the hippocampus and memory, and reducing anxiety in cancer survivors.

emotion-focused coping
biofeedback
exercise
the relaxation response technique

Explanation:

Analyze the question stem

The question asks to identify the intervention or behavior that has been shown to prevent stress-related health problems, minimize stress on the hippocampus, and reduce anxiety in cancer survivors.

Evaluate the options

• Emotion-focused coping: While helpful for managing emotional distress, it is a broad cognitive/behavioral strategy rather than a specific physical intervention linked directly to physical hippocampal protection in this context.
• Biofeedback: A technique to gain voluntary control over physiological functions, but not specifically characterized by this exact combination of physiological benefits (especially hippocampal protection).
• Exercise: Physical exercise is well-documented in health psychology to promote neurogenesis, protect the hippocampus from stress-induced atrophy, reduce anxiety in clinical populations (including cancer survivors), and prevent stress-related health issues.
• The relaxation response technique: Primarily used for immediate stress reduction and physiological calming, but exercise is the primary lifestyle intervention associated with preventing hippocampal volume loss and stress-related cognitive decline.

Confirm the correct choice

Based on standard psychological and physiological research regarding stress regulation, aerobic exercise is the correct answer.

Answer:

• Emotion-focused coping
• Biofeedback
• Exercise (Correct answer)
• The relaxation response technique