DISTRESS TOLERANCE, EMOTION DYSREGULATION, AND ANXIETY AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AMONG HIV+ INDIVIDUALS

Date

2013-05

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Abstract

A disproportionately high percentage of HIV infected individuals experience clinically meaningful symptoms of anxiety and depression. To date, few studies have examined cognitive-affective factors that may account for these high rates of anxiety and depressive symptoms. The current study examined the mediational effects of emotional dysregulation in terms of the relation between perceived distress tolerance and anxiety and depressive symptoms among HIV+ individuals. Participants included 176 HIV+ adults (21.6% female, Mage = 48.40 years, SD = 8.66). Results indicated that distress tolerance was significantly related to greater depressive and anxiety symptoms (panic, social anxiety) among this sample of HIV+ individuals. Results also indicated that emotion dysregulation mediated this association. Findings were statistically significant above and beyond the variance accounted for by CD4 T-cell count, race, gender, education level, and marijuana use status. Findings are discussed in relation to the potential explanatory utility of distress tolerance and emotional dysregulation in terms of psychological well-being among HIV+ individuals.

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Keywords

HIV, AIDS, Anxiety, Depression, Emotion dysregulation, Distress tolerance

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