Re-examination of the Latent Structure of the Distress Intolerance Index

Distress intolerance (DI) has been identified as an important risk and maintenance factor for numerous psychological disorders (McHugh & Otto, Behavior Therapy, 43, 641–651, 2012; Zvolensky et al. 2011). However, the study of DI has been complicated by varying definitions of the construct and the development of different measures DI. Recognizing the need for a standard measurement instrument, McHugh & Otto, Behavior Therapy, 43, 641–651, (2012) sought to develop a measure of global DI by integrating four existing measures of DI and related constructs—the Distress Intolerance Index (DII). Although the DII has demonstrated reliability and validity across several studies, no study to date has replicated the factor structure of the DII presented by McHugh and Otto, Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 25, 745–749 (2011). Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the factor structure of the DII in both an undergraduate and clinical sample. Participants were N= 227 university students and N = 262 patients diagnosed with OCD, depression, and anxiety disorders who completed the DII. Results indicated that the original DII factor structure fit the clinical sample data adequately; however, minor revisions were necessary to produce adequate fit in the undergraduate sample. The DII demonstrated convergent and discriminate validity with measures of psychological symptom severity and affect. Additional investigation of the psychometric properties of the DII is warranted to clarify its factor structure and utility.