Demographic Variables As Predictors Of Distress Tolerance Among Clinically Depressed Patients

Abstract

For depression, distress tolerance has received relatively less attention than other factors. However, elevated negative affect is a defining feature of depression, so the capacity to endure negative or unpleasant emotional states is likely a relevant factor. The study therefore investigated the demographic variables as predictors distress tolerance among clinically depressed patients.

The study was a cross-sectional survey design.  A total number of two hundred and thirty (230) clinically depressed patients attending Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital Yaba, Lagos were purposively sampled. The results from the study revealed that

The study therefore recommends the establishing of therapeutic programmes to enhance the emotional regulation of depressed individuals in order to lessen their level of depression and to improve their functionality socio-demographic variables (age, religion, sex, marital status, socio-economic status and educational qualification) jointly predicted emotional functioning of clinically depressed patient in terms of distress tolerance (R² = 0.12, F (3,226). age (β= -.17; t = -2.35, p< 0.01), religion (β= -.19; t = -2.88, p< 0.01), and educational qualification (β= .15; t = 2.33, p< 0.01) were significant independent predictors of distress tolerance. Also, age (β= -.22; t = -3.35, p< 0.01), sex (β= -.14; t = -2.07, p< 0.01) were significantly predicted tolerance.  In addition, age (β= -.18; t = -2.51, p< 0.01), religion (β= -.15; t = -2.36, p< 0.01), marital status (β= -.16; t = -2.18, p< 0.01), educational qualification (β= .14; t = 2.22, p< 0.01) significantly predicted appraisal among clinically depressed patients. Also, religion (β= -.21; t = -3.08, p<0.01), is the only independent significant predictor of absorption.   Moreso, age (β= -.20; t = -2.92, p< 0.01), marital status (β= -.24; t = -3.47, p< 0.01) educational qualification (β= .22; t = 3.55, p< 0.01) were significant independent prediction of positive regulation among clinically depressed patients.

Based on the results of the findings, the study therefore concluded that some demo-graphic variables significantly predicted psychological wellbeing. It is therefore recommending that Patients with depression should first be assessed for emotional functioning and appropriate recommendation should be made before medication especially for patients who are within the mild - moderate classification on the depression scale.