Distress tolerance and early adolescent externalizing and internalizing symptoms: The moderating role of gender and ethnicity

• Published in: Behaviour research and therapy Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 198 - 205
• Main Authors: Daughters, Stacey B., Reynolds, Elizabeth K., MacPherson, Laura, Kahler, Christopher W., Danielson, Carla K., Zvolensky, Michael, Lejuez, C.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2009; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior - psychology; Adolescents; African Americans - psychology; Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking - psychology; Behavioral psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child clinical studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Distress tolerance; Ethnicity; Externalizing behavior; Externalizing behaviour; Female; Gender; Health behavior; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Internal-External Control; Internalizing behaviour; Internalizing symptoms; Juvenile Delinquency - psychology; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Negative reinforcement; Psychological aspects; Psychological distress; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Socioeconomic Factors; Stress, Psychological - ethnology; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Symptoms; Teenagers; Tolerance; Distress tolerance; Alcohol; Internalizing symptoms; Adolescents; Externalizing behavior; Negative reinforcement; Human; Internalizing symptom; Sex role; Ethnic group; Preadolescent; Behavioral disorder; Alcoholic beverage; Symptomatology; Psychological distress; Adolescent; Mental disorder; Psychopathology
• ISSN: 0005-7967; 1873-622X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2008.12.001

A large body of research has examined the development of internalizing and externalizing symptoms in childhood and early adolescence. Notably, there is significant concomitant impairment associated with early adolescent symptomatology, as well as association of these symptoms with future development of psychopathology, poor physical health, self-destructive thoughts and behaviors, criminal behavior, and HIV risk behaviors. Drawing on negative reinforcement theory, the current study sought to examine the potential role of distress tolerance, defined as the ability to persist in goal-directed activity while experiencing emotional distress, as a potential mechanism that may underlie both internalizing and externalizing symptoms among 231 Caucasian and African American youth ( M age = 10.9 years; 45.5% female; 54.5% Caucasian ethnicity). A series of regressions resulted in significant moderated relationships, such that low distress tolerance conferred increased risk for alcohol use among Caucasians, delinquent behavior among African Americans, and internalizing symptoms among females. Clinical implications, including the potential role of negative reinforcement models in early intervention with young adolescents, are discussed.