Distress Tolerance and Social Support in Adolescence: Predicting Risk for Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms Following a Natural Disaster.
The purpose of the multi-measure, multi-wave, longitudinal study was to examine the interactive relation between behavioral distress tolerance (DT) and perceived social support (PSS) in 352 tornado-exposed adolescents aged 12-17 years (M=14.44;SD=1.74). At baseline, adolescents completed a computer-based task for DT, and self-report measures of PSS, depressed mood, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use, and interpersonal conflict. Symptoms also were assessed 4 and 12 months after baseline. Findings showed that lower levels of DT together with lower levels of PSS conferred risk for elevated symptoms of prospective depression (t(262)= -2.04,p=.04; reffect size=0.13) and PTSD (t(195)= -2.08,p=.04; reffect size=0.15) following a tornado. However, only PSS was significant in substance uset(139)=2.20,p=.03; reffect size=0.18) and conflict (t(138)=-4.05,p<.0001; reffect size=0.33) in our sample. Implications regarding adolescent DT, the transdiagnostic nature of PSS, and the clinical applications of our findings in the aftermath of a natural disaster are discussed.
Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL; National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
Joseph R
JR
Cohen
National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
Carla Kmett
CK
Danielson
National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.
Zachary W
ZW
Adams
Technology Applications Center for Healthful Lifestyles, College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC; Health Equity and Rural Outreach Innovation Center, Ralph H. Johnson VAMC, Charleston, SC.
Kenneth J
KJ
Ruggiero
Adolescence; Distress Tolerance; Natural Disasters; Perceived Social Support