Reliability and Validity of the Persian Version of Distress Tolerance Scale

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the validity and reliability of the Persian version of Simons and Gaher‘s Distress Tolerance scale(DTS) by administering it to nicotine dependent students of Tehran University. METHOD: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, 317 nicotine dependent students of Tehran University who were selected, using available sampling method, completed DTS, Coping with Stress- Revised(CS-R), Positive and Negative Affect Scales(PANAS) and Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence(FTND). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistic methods and correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The alpha coefficients for Tolerance, Absorption, Appraisal and Regulation subscales were 0.75, 0.77, 0.70 and 0.75, respectively. The test-retest correlation coefficients with two months interval for Tolerance, Absorption, Appraisal and Regulation subscales and the total scale were 0.71, 0.69, 0.77, 0,73 and 0.79, respectively; all of which were statistically significant (p<0.001). The correlation coefficient of DTS with problem-focused, emotional-focused, less useful and insufficient coping with stress were found to be: 0.213, −0.278, −0.337 and −0.196. In addition, the correlation coefficient of DTS with positive emotion, negative emotion and smoking-dependency were 0.543, −0.224 and −0.653 which were also significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The DTS is valid and reliable and suitable to use for assessing distress tolerance.