The role of distress tolerance in the relationship between cognitive schemas and alcohol problems among college students

Abstract

Introduction The current study tested the role of distress tolerance in the relationship between three early maladaptive cognitive schemas (Abandonment, Defectiveness/Shame, and Insufficient Self-Control) and alcohol problems among college students (N = 364). Previous research suggests that maladaptive cognitive schemas may be a risk factor for alcohol-related problems. However, the mechanism underlying this association is unclear. One's tolerance for emotional distress may play an important role in understanding the nature of this association. Methods We tested a structural equation model where distress tolerance was expected to explain or moderate associations between early maladaptive schemas and alcohol outcomes. Results Results indicated distress tolerance partially mediated the relationships between schemas of Abandonment and Insufficient Self-Control and alcohol problems. Distress tolerance also significantly moderated the relationship between the Defectiveness/Shame schema and alcohol-related problems, reducing the strength of the association. Conclusions Distress tolerance is a modifiable risk factor and the results of this study support the inclusion of emotional regulation strategies in the prevention and treatment of alcohol problems among young adults.

Latinx College Students: How Schemas and Attachments Impact Depression and Relationship Satisfaction

“…Other studies have also found associations between specific EMS (e.g., defectiveness/shame, dependence/incompetence, abandonment/instability, and insufficient self-control) and depression (Hawke et al, 2011;Oliveira & Nobre, 2013). Several global studies of college student samples from various countries and ethnic groups have confirmed associations between general and/or specific EMS and depression with that demographic (Sigre-Leirós et al, 2013;Simons et al, 2018;Thimm, 2017).…”

The Indirect Effect of Distress Tolerance on Young Adult Alcohol Use Behaviors via Coping Motives

“…Individuals with poor DT are more likely to assess unpleasant emotional or somatic states as being unacceptable (Wray et al, 2012) and use maladaptive regulatory strategies (R. M. Simons et al, 2018) to avoid or terminate these states. Alcohol use is one strategy that individuals can use to mitigate the distress caused by unpleasant emotional or somatic experiences; however, research on the association between DT and alcohol use behaviors among young adults who drink has produced mixed findings.…”

“…Whereas some research has revealed a significant relationship between DT and alcohol use behaviors, other studies have produced mixed findings. R. M. Simons et al (2018) reported that, among a sample of college students, lower levels of DT were related to more alcohol-related negative consequences, but DT was not associated with total number of drinks consumed in a typical week. Other researchers have found that DT is relevant in explaining alcohol-related negative consequences only within specific populations of young adults (i.e., African American college students; Dennhardt & Murphy, 2011).…”

“…Alcohol use is one strategy that individuals can use to mitigate the distress caused by unpleasant emotional or somatic experiences; however, research on the association between DT and alcohol use behaviors among young adults who drink has produced mixed findings. R. M. Simons et al () found that DT was not related to the number of drinks consumed per week, but decreased levels of DT were related to greater alcohol‐related negative consequences in a sample of college students. Yet other researchers have found no relationship between DT and alcohol‐related negative consequences within collegiate (Williams et al, ) or community samples of young adults (Howell et al, ).…”

“…Another explanation for the inconsistent findings between DT and drinking is the way in which problematic alcohol use was measured. Some researchers only assessed reported alcohol‐related negative consequences (i.e., problems caused by alcohol use; Dennhardt & Murphy, ), whereas others have examined problems and number of drinks in a typical week (R. M. Simons et al, ) as separate variables. In other research (Gorka et al, ), problematic drinking was measured with a single composite variable to capture both use and alcohol problems.…”