Distress Tolerance as a Correlate of Tobacco Dependence and Motivation: Incremental Relations over and above Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms

ABSTRACT

Distress tolerance—the capacity to withstand distressing states—is implicated in the etiology of regular smoking. The present study extends past research by examining whether relations between perceived distress tolerance and smoking-related factors: (1) differ across subdimensions of distress tolerance (Tolerance, Appraisal, Regulation, Absorption); (2) extend across measures of dependence, negative reinforcement smoking, and craving; and (3) are incremental to depressive and anxiety symptoms. Results showed that global distress tolerance was associated with measures of dependence, negative reinforcement, and craving even after controlling for affective symptomatology. Subdimensions of distress tolerance were not uniquely related to smoking outcomes in unadjusted or adjusted models. These findings suggest that: (a) distress tolerance is uniquely implicated in smoking over and above affective symptomatology; and (b) specific subdimensions of distress tolerance do not provide more information about smoking-related characteristics than global dimensions; and (c) addressing distress tolerance in smoking cessation interventions may promote successful cessation.

Keywords:

• anxiety
• dependence
• depression
• distress tolerance
• nicotine
• smoking