Investigating the relationship between the five-factor model of distress tolerance, anxiety and anxiety sensitivity. Issue 3 (4th May 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Lafontaine, Marie-France; Turcotte, Stéphane; Denis, Isabelle; Foldes-Busque, Guillaume
• Is Part Of: Anxiety, stress, and coping. Volume 36:Issue 3(2023)
• Page Start: 353
• Page End: 365
• Publication Date: 2023-05-04
• Subjects: Anxiety -- anxiety sensitivity -- distress tolerance -- emotional regulation -- intolerance of uncertainty; Anxiety -- Periodicals; Anxiety -- Research -- Periodicals; Anxiety -- periodicals; Stress -- periodicals; Adaptation, Psychological -- periodicals; 616.8522
• DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2022.2077929
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1061-5806

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: Distress tolerance (DT) has been conceptualized as a vulnerability factor for several psychopathologies. A five factor model of DT has been suggested, but its associations with anxiety and anxiety sensitivity have yet to be explored. Objectives: This study aimed to further validate the five-factor model of DT, identify the associations between its factors and elevated anxiety, and assess if anxiety sensitivity mediates the association between DT and anxiety. Design and methods: This observational study included 330 students and university workers (women = 82.7%; mean age = 27.7 years, SD = 9.4). They completed online questionnaires assessing DT, anxiety sensitivity and anxiety levels. Results: The five-factor model was a good fit to the data (RMSEA = .04). Two factors, and the sex of the participants, contributed to the variance in anxiety (r2 = .418, p < .001). Tolerance of negative emotion was directly (β = −1.98, 95% CI = [−2.53, −1.42]) and indirectly (β = −1.10, 95% CI = [−1.55, -.78]) associated with lower anxiety through anxiety sensitivity. Tolerance of uncertainty was also directly (β = -.08, 95% CI = [-.10, -.06]) and indirectly (β = -.04, 95% CI = [-.05, -.02]) associated with lower anxiety through anxiety sensitivity. Conclusions: Tolerance of negative emotion and uncertainty were associated with anxiety independently of the other factors of DT. These associations seem partially explained by the effect of anxiety sensitivity.