Does Distress Tolerance Influence Relapse Vulnerability in Alcohol Dependence

Relapse remains a critical concern in the management of alcohol dependence, often influenced by underlying psychological and emotional processes. The present study examined the relationship between distress tolerance and relapse vulnerability among individuals with alcohol dependence. A total of 150 participants were assessed using a socio-demographic data sheet, Distress Tolerance Scale (Simons &Gaher,2005) and the AWARE questionnaire (Harris &Miller,2000), based on Gorski’s relapse warning signs model. As the data did not meet the assumptions of normality, non-parametric statistical techniques were employed. The findings revealed a significant negative relationship between distress tolerance and relapse vulnerability, indicating that individuals with lower distress tolerance reported greater susceptibility to relapse. All subcomponents of distress tolerance, including tolerance, absorption, appraisal , and regulation, demonstrated significant relationships with relapse vulnerability. Furthermore, group comparisons based on abstinence status revealed that individuals in early abstinence demonstrated lower levels of distress tolerance and greater relapse vulnerability than those in sustained abstinence, highlighting the critical role of abstinence stage in recovery.These findings emphasize the importance of emotional coping capacities in relapse prevention and highlight distress tolerance as a key psychological factor in recovery.