Distress Tolerance Measure

Abstract

The Distress Tolerance Measure (Lass et al., 2023) was developed to assess an individual’s self-reported capacity to withstand negative and/or uncomfortable emotional states. This instrument was designed for a qualitative analysis conducted with a sample of university students. The construct of attitudes toward distress tolerance was measured in this sample using 11 questions, with responses coded according to the recommendations of Braun and Clarke (2006) and Nowell et al. (2017). Interrater reliability results were reported for the coding procedures.

Keywords

Distress Tolerance; Concept Attitudes; Definitions

Authors

Lass, Alisson N. S.; Veilleux, Jennifer C.; DeShong, Hilary L.; Winer, E. Samuel

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Purpose

The purpose of this instrument is to examine how individuals define key terms used in self-report measures of distress tolerance and whether they view their ability to tolerate distress as stable versus variable.

Validity

No validity indicated.

Reliability

Interrater Reliability: The average value of Maxwell’s RE (Maxwell, 1977) across categories was 0.95 (SD = 0.05), indicating excellent intercoder reliability (ICR).

Factor Analysis

No factor analysis indicated.

Instrument: Test Type, Format, Language Available, Population Group, Age Group, Population Details and Test Methodology

The Distress Tolerance Measure is an original survey instrument. Most items are open-ended, while question 8 is comprised of multiple parts depending on whether participants provide an answer of yes or no. The administration method used was electronic. The instrument is available in English.

Population Group: Human; Male; Female

Age Group: Adulthood (18 yrs & older)

Population Details: Respondents were university students located in the United States.

Test Methodology: The test methodology involved Test Reliability and Interrater Reliability.

Keywords

Concept Formation; Concepts; Distress; Stress Reactions; Tolerance; Stress and Coping Measures

Authors Including Author ORCID Identifier and Affiliation Email Addresses Correspondence Address

Lass, Alisson N. S.

• Author ORCID Identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5263-7228

• Affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology

• Email address: [email protected]

• Correspondence Address: Mayo Clinic, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55902, [email protected]

Veilleux, Jennifer C.

• Affiliation: University of Arkansas, Department of Psychology

• Email address: No data is Available

DeShong, Hilary L.

• Affiliation: Mississippi State University, Department of Psychology

• Email address: No data is Available

Winer, E. Samuel

• Author ORCID Identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3817-874X

• Affiliation: New School for Social Research, Department of Psychology

• Email address: No data is Available

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Permissions: May use for Research/Teaching

Fee: No

Commercial: No

Test Year: 2023

References

Lass, A. N. S., Veilleux, J. C., DeShong, H. L., & Winer, E. S. (2023). What is distress tolerance? Presenting a need for conceptual clarification based on qualitative findings. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 29, 23–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.05.003

Items of the Distress Tolerance Measure

This instrument is comprised of 11 questions, with question 8 being comprised of multiple parts. The test items are available. The location of the test items is 2023-80921-001, Table 1, Page 25.

Instructions and Questions Provided to Participants

The following questions will ask you to describe terms and answer questions in your own words. Please think carefully about each question and provide thorough and thoughtful responses. Try to provide 2–4 sentences for each question.