Validity of the distress tolerance inventory in predicting response to the Cold-Pressor Test

Abstract

ABSTRACT Distress intolerance—a broad band dispositional variable has been shown to serve as a transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology. We investigated the predictive validity of the physical and emotional subscales of the Distress Tolerance Inventory (DTI) on behavioral responding (immersion time) and moment-to-moment subjective distress ratings to the Cold-Pressor Test. College students (N = 134) completed self-report questionnaires indexing physical and emotional distress tolerance and then completed a cold pressor challenge. The DTI displayed convergent validity with several well-established self-report measures assessing distress tolerance (i.e. DTS, PCS, DIS). Participants’ scores on the DTI physical subscale (but not the DTS or DTI emotional subscale) predicted participants’ immersion time on the cold pressor challenge, thus supporting the construct validity of the DTI physical distress subscale. The DIS also predicted immersion time, though its internal consistency was marginal. These data suggest that the DTI is a valid measure for both emotional and physical distress tolerance and should be considered as a viable alternative to the DTS, especially for investigative domains involving physical distress such as chronic pain, or screening personnel for physically demanding tasks.