Concurrent and Prospective Relations Between Distress Tolerance, Life Stressors, and Anger

The current investigation examined relations between distress tolerance (DT), life stressors, and anger using cross-sectional and prospective designs. In Study 1, low DT was uniquely associated with higher levels of trait anger and anger control difficulties. In Study 2, the DT and anger relationship was examined through two assessments, 1 month apart, and using twice-weekly daily diary assessments. Low DT predicted increases in anger 1 month later only among individuals reporting low past-month romantic negative life events; it did not interact with daily stressors in predicting daily anger. Lower daily DT was uniquely associated with greater daily anger. Overall, support was found for unique concurrent relations between low DT and problematic anger, though no support was found for low DT acting as a prospective vulnerability factor for increased angry response to stressors. Theoretical implications are discussed.