Resilience and Vulnerability: Understanding Distress Tolerance and Mindfulness among Tribals with Alcohol Use Disorder in India

Abstract

Background: Alcohol use disorder may be directly or indirectly related to mindfulness and distress tolerance, and these factors are often targeted in treatment. However, such evidence has yet to be established among tribal. The research aimed to investigate the levels and relationships of mindfulness, distress tolerance, and dependence severity among tribal individuals with alcohol use disorder. Methodology: Two hundred tribals with alcohol use disorder were recruited at three tertiary health-care centers in three districts and assessed with the sociodemographic and clinical pro forma, Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMSR), the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS), and Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS). Results: The mean score on the SDS, CAMSR, and DTS was 4.99, 23.52, and 33.44, respectively. There were no statistically significant relationships between the measure of mindfulness scores and dependence severity scores. However, the perceived capacity to endure emotional suffering and negative emotions consuming one’s focus was significantly inversely linked to the severity of dependence. Conclusion: There are lower distress tolerance and mindfulness levels among tribals with alcohol use disorder. The severity of alcohol use has no significant link with mindfulness, but has inversely linked with emotional distress tolerance and attention absorption by negative emotions.