The role of gender and race in the relation between adolescent distress tolerance and externalizing and internalizing psychopathology

Abstract

Distress tolerance (DT) is an established construct contributing to the onset and maintenance of psychopathology in adulthood; however, few studies have examined the role of DT in older adolescent psychopathology. Emerging data suggest that gender and race may influence this relation. Therefore, the current study examined the relation between gender, race, and DT on parent-reported internalizing and externalizing DSM-oriented symptoms among a community sample of 128, 14 to 18 year old adolescents. Results indicated a moderating effect of gender on affective problems, such that females with low DT, but not males, displayed significantly greater affective problems. Findings also indicated a significant moderating effect of race, such that Caucasians with low DT, but not African Americans, displayed significantly higher somatic, oppositional defiant, and conduct problems. These findings suggest that DT is an important clinical variable in older adolescence, particularly among Caucasians and females.

A Prospective Examination of the Relations Between Emotional Abuse and Anxiety: Moderation by Distress Tolerance

“…Following from this, we might expect low DT youth to have considerable difficulties managing distress associated with experiencing CEA, and to make attempts to avoid interactions with adults, as well as the resulting distress. This conceptualization fits well with behavioral theories of anxiety, which suggest avoidance is critical in the development and persistence of anxiety (Barlow, 2004), thereby explaining why low DT youth (e.g., Cummings et al, 2013; Danielson, Ruggiero, Daughters, & Lejuez, 2010; Daughters, Gorka, Magidson, MacPherson, & Seitz-Brown, 2013; Daughters et al, 2009) and adults (Banducci, Bujarski, Bonn-Miller, Patel, & Connolly, 2016; Keough, Riccardi, Timpano, Mitchell, & Schmidt, 2010; Telch, Jacquin, Smits, & Powers, 2003) experience particularly elevated anxiety. Although the tendency to engage in avoidant behaviors might be adaptive in abusive environments, when expressed across all relationships, this type of avoidant response is associated with emotional arousal, vigilance, and anxiety (Cicchetti & Sroufe, 2000; Cloitre, Cohen, & Koenen, 2006; Kring & Bachoeowski, 1999; Shankman & Klein, 2003).…”

“…The BIRD has previously been used as an indicator of DT among youth (Daughters et al, 2009; 2013; Danielson et al, 2010; MacPherson et al, 2010). Briefly, during the BIRD, youth have the option of persisting on a distressing task (with positive reinforcement available for persisting), or quitting the task to reduce emotional distress (see Daughters et al, 2009 or MacPherson et al, 2010 for a thorough description of the task).…”

Distress Tolerance and Social Support in Adolescence: Predicting Risk for Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms Following a Natural Disaster

“…One explanation for this discrepancy from past studies (Daughters et al, 2013) could be lower base rates of substance use in our study compared to past research (Danielson et al, 2014). Low base rates for substance use may be due to several reasons, including lower substance use rates in Missouri (Missouri Department of Public Safety and Statistical Analysis, 2012) and southeastern United States (CDC, 2011) compared to other regions of the country.…”

“…Past research is mixed, with some studies suggesting a significant, prospective inverse relation between low DT and emotional distress (Danielson et al, 2010; Daughters et al, 2013), and others finding no such relation (Cummings et al, 2013). Our findings offer an explanation for these inconsistencies by suggesting that DT is associated with prospective symptoms of PTSD and depression, but only in the presence of low social support.…”

“…Past DT investigations focused on the moderating role of sex (Cummings et al, 2013; Danielson, Ruggiero, Daughters, & Lejuez, 2010) and race (Daughters et al, 2009; Daughters et al, 2013), but few consistent findings emerged. Discrepancies between these moderating variables are difficult to reconcile.…”