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Aguirre P, Michelini Y, Bravo AJ, Pautassi RM, Pilatti A. Association between personality traits and symptoms of depression and anxiety via emotional regulation and distress tolerance. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306146. [PMID: 39024203 PMCID: PMC11257275 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The Big Five personality traits have shown associations with symptoms of depression and anxiety among college students, but it is unclear which factors mediate these relationships. Past research suggests that psychological distress is closely related to difficulties in affect regulation (e.g., low distress tolerance). Therefore, the present study examined the associations between personality traits and depression and anxiety via emotion regulation and distress tolerance. Participants were 694 (81.4% females; Mean age = 23.12 [SD 2.75]) Argentinian college students who completed an online survey examining mental health and personality variables. A sizeable percentage of students endorsed moderate to severe symptoms of depression (45.1%) or anxiety (25.9%). Utilizing path analyses, we found that appraisal, a dimension of distress tolerance, atemporally mediated the association between emotional stability and symptoms of depression/anxiety (i.e., higher levels of emotional stability → higher appraisal distress tolerance → fewer symptoms of depression/anxiety). Further, expressive suppression (a dimension of emotion regulation) significantly mediated the associations between personality traits (i.e., agreeableness and extraversion) and symptoms of depression (higher levels of agreeableness/extraversion → lower use of expressive suppression → fewer symptoms of depression). Taken together, the results suggest that higher levels of emotional stability, extraversion and agreeableness could protect students from the development of symptoms of depression/anxiety via lower maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and higher distress tolerance (particularly appraisal). These findings highlight the relevance of intervention strategies specifically tailored to improve distress tolerance and emotion regulation for those students undergoing mental health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Aguirre
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas, IIPsi-CONICET-UNC, Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Yanina Michelini
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas, IIPsi-CONICET-UNC, Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Adrian J. Bravo
- Department of Psychological Sciences, William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Ricardo Marcos Pautassi
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M. y M. Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET-UNC, Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Angelina Pilatti
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas, IIPsi-CONICET-UNC, Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
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Lopez MM, Naragon-Gainey K, Conway CC. Defining distress tolerance in a structural model of Big Five personality domains. J Pers 2024. [PMID: 38829002 DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Distress tolerance (DT)-willingness to face internal discomforts-has a fuzzy boundary with neuroticism (low emotional stability), raising questions about its independent role in models of personality and mental health. METHOD We investigated DT's overlap with neuroticism and other Big Five factors in a structural model of personality and personality disorder features in samples of university students (N = 1025), emotional disorder patients (N = 225), and substance-use patients (N = 210). RESULTS In exploratory factor analyses, we found that DT indicators clustered with neuroticism and were essentially unrelated to other Big Five domains. Big Five personality dimensions collectively explained approximately 40%-70% of variation in DT, across different samples and methods of quantifying shared variance. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that DT and neuroticism are near neighbors in empirical space and speculate that much of the observed correlation between DT and mental health outcomes in the literature may be carried by shared neuroticism variance. We suggest that clearer distinctions between the two constructs in empirical research could improve our understanding of DT's unique role in the development and treatment of psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Martin Lopez
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Kristin Naragon-Gainey
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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Burke LA, Chijioke S, Le TP. Gendered racial microaggressions and emerging adult Black women's social and general anxiety: Distress intolerance and stress as mediators. J Clin Psychol 2023; 79:1051-1069. [PMID: 36413584 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
There is robust evidence that gendered racial microaggressions affect Black women's mental health. However, few studies have examined how this form of discrimination affects Black women's social anxiety in addition to their general anxiety, as well as the underlying mechanisms related to gendered racial microaggressions and anxiety. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between gendered racial microaggressions stress (GRMS) and gendered racial microaggressions frequency (GRMF), and Black women's social anxiety and general anxiety symptoms. We also examined the mediating roles of distress intolerance and stress in these associations. METHOD One hundred and sixty-three Black women, between the ages of 18 and 25 years old, completed a cross-sectional survey. Regression analyses were used to examine the associations between gendered racial microaggressions and social anxiety and general anxiety, and mediation analyses examined the indirect effect of gendered racial microaggressions on the outcome variables through distress intolerance and stress. RESULTS GRMS was associated with greater social and general anxiety through the mechanisms of distress intolerance and stress. GRMF was associated with reduced social anxiety and was not associated with general anxiety. CONCLUSIONS Intervention efforts should be aimed to prevent the experience of gendered racial microaggressions to prevent subsequent stress and mental health outcomes for Black women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A Burke
- Department of Psychology, The University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Sandra Chijioke
- Department of Psychology, The University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Thomas P Le
- Department of Psychology, The University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
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Geyer RB, Magee JC, Clerkin EM. Anxiety sensitivity and panic symptoms: the moderating influence of distress tolerance. ANXIETY, STRESS, & COPING 2022:1-18. [DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2022.2146102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elise M. Clerkin
- Student Health and Wellness, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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Larrazabal MA, Naragon-Gainey K, Conway CC. Distress Tolerance and Stress-induced Emotion Regulation Behavior. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN PERSONALITY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jrp.2022.104243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Anxiety Sensitivity and Distress Tolerance Predict Changes in Internalizing Symptoms in Individuals Exposed to Interpersonal Trauma. COGNITIVE THERAPY AND RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10608-021-10234-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Effects of Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, Craving, and Depression in Patients with Opioid Dependence Disorder. JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOTHERAPY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10879-020-09487-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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Kuranova A, Booij SH, de Jonge P, Jeronimus B, Lin A, Wardenaar KJ, Wichers M, Wigman JTW. Don't worry, be happy: Protective factors to buffer against distress associated with psychotic experiences. Schizophr Res 2020; 223:79-86. [PMID: 32473933 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2020.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Around 6-7% of the general population report psychotic experiences (PEs). Positive PEs (e.g. hearing voices) may increase the risk of development of psychotic disorder. An important predictor of the transition to a psychotic disorder is secondary distress associated with PEs. We examined the moderating effect of potential protective factors on this secondary distress. METHODS Data come from 2870 individuals of the HowNutsAreTheDutch study. PEs were assessed with the Community Assessment of Psychic Experience (CAPE) questionnaire and were divided into three subdomains ("Bizarre experiences", "Delusional ideations", and "Perceptual anomalies"). Protective factors explored were having a partner, having a pet, benevolent types of humor, optimism and the high levels of personality traits emotional stability (reversed neuroticism), extraversion, openness to experience, conscientiousness, and agreeableness. We examined whether these protective factors moderated (lowered) the association between frequency of PEs and PE-associated distress. RESULTS Due to low prevalence of perceptual anomalies in the sample, this domain was excluded from analysis. No moderating effects were observed of protective factors on the association between bizarre experiences and distress. Having a partner and high levels of optimism, self-enhancing humor, openness, extraversion and emotional stability moderated the association between delusional ideations and secondary distress, leading to lower levels of distress. CONCLUSIONS Several protective factors were found to moderate the association between frequency and secondary distress of delusional ideations, with high levels of the protective factors being associated with lower levels of distress. A focus on protective factors could be relevant for interventions and prevention strategies regarding psychotic phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kuranova
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center Psychiatry (UCP) Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Sanne H Booij
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center Psychiatry (UCP) Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Research and Education, Friesland Mental Health Care Services, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; Center for Integrative Psychiatry, Lentis, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Peter de Jonge
- University of Groningen, Department of Developmental Psychology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Bertus Jeronimus
- University of Groningen, Department of Developmental Psychology, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ashleigh Lin
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Australia
| | - Klaas J Wardenaar
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center Psychiatry (UCP) Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke Wichers
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center Psychiatry (UCP) Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Johanna T W Wigman
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University Center Psychiatry (UCP) Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Research and Education, Friesland Mental Health Care Services, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
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Le TP, Iwamoto DK, Burke LA. A longitudinal investigation of racial discrimination, distress intolerance, and psychological well-being in African American college students. J Clin Psychol 2020; 77:745-754. [PMID: 32864769 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
There is robust evidence that racism negatively influences health outcomes for African American college students. However, few studies have longitudinally examined the underlying mechanisms related to the repercussions of racism. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal association between racial discrimination and psychological well-being (PWB), as well as the mediating role of distress intolerance. METHOD As part of a larger parent study, a sample of 105 African American first-year undergraduate students (mean age = 18.1) completed three surveys across 1 year. The RMediation program was used to test the indirect effect of racism on PWB through distress intolerance. RESULTS There was a significant positive indirect effect of racism on PWB through distress intolerance, such that increased racism was associated with increased distress intolerance, which was thus associated with decreased PWB. CONCLUSIONS Intervention efforts may be aimed at preventing racism for African American college students and providing clinical services that reduce distress intolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas P Le
- Department of Psychology, The University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Derek K Iwamoto
- Department of Psychology, The University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Lindsey A Burke
- Department of Psychology, The University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
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