Tolerance of Uncontrollability and Psychopathology: The Role of Maladaptive Emotion Regulation

Tolerance of uncontrollability (TOU) can be defined as the ability to endure the discomfort resulting from uncontrollable events. In the absence of perceived control, people utilize strategies that regulate and enhance the inner perception of control. Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) and thought suppression (TS) are some of the strategies that give illusory control in the short term. However, many studies revealed that these strategies increase distress in the long term. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between TOU, RNT, TS, depression, and anxiety. It was anticipated that TOU would be associated with both depression and anxiety, and RNT and TS would mediate these relationships.

A sample of 448 participants aged between 17 and 56 (80.4% females) completed measures assessing TOU, RNT, TS, depression, and anxiety.

Findings showed that higher levels of TOU were associated with low levels of depression and anxiety, however when anxiety was controlled, the correlation with depression disappeared. While RNT was the mediator in both outcomes, TS only mediated the relationship between TOU and anxiety.

The current study emphasizes that TOU can be a concept specific to anxiety and highlights one of the mechanisms behind TOU and psychological distress.