Which statement about the exhaustion phase of General Adaptation Syndrome is false?

• A. During the exhaustion phase, the body's resources are depleted, leading to increased vulnerability to illness.
• B. The exhaustion phase may result in serious health consequences if stress continues.
• C. Prolonged exposure to stressors can result in the exhaustion phase.
• D. The exhaustion phase is characterized by a return to normal physiological functioning.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) model, which describes the body's response to stress in three phases: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.
2. Review the characteristics of the exhaustion phase, noting that it occurs after prolonged stress when the body's resources are depleted.
3. Recognize that during the exhaustion phase, the body is vulnerable to illness and serious health consequences due to the inability to maintain normal functioning.
4. Identify that the false statement is the one claiming the exhaustion phase is characterized by a return to normal physiological functioning, which contradicts the concept of resource depletion and vulnerability.
5. Conclude that the exhaustion phase does not involve recovery to normal functioning but rather a breakdown or failure of the body's stress response system.