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. 2010 Dec 1;19(6):406-410.
doi: 10.1177/0963721410388642. Epub 2010 Dec 14.

Distress Tolerance: Theory, Measurement, and Relations to Psychopathology

Michael J Zvolensky  1 , Anka A Vujanovic  2   3 , Amit Bernstein  4 , Teresa Leyro  1
Affiliations

Distress Tolerance: Theory, Measurement, and Relations to Psychopathology

Michael J Zvolensky et al. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. .

Abstract

In this article we present the theoretical and empirical bases of distress tolerance research. Although distress tolerance offers a promising lens through which to better understand various psychological symptoms and disorders, further theoretical development and empirical inquiry is needed to promote our understanding of the construct. Overall, a number of questions regarding its theoretical conceptualization and measurement, associations with related constructs and psychopathology, and role(s) in therapeutic change and intervention remain unanswered. Directions for future research are discussed to stimulate further empirical study on this theoretically and clinically promising topic.

Keywords: assessment; distress tolerance; mechanism; psychopathology; vulnerability.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests The authors declared that they had no conflicts of interest with respect to their authorship or the publication of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Heuristic depiction of the global experiential distress (in)tolerance construct and lower-order, domain-specific dimensions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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