Psychological distress and indicators of wellbeing using the dual continua model in a rural sample

A growing body of research provides support for a dual continua model of mental health where psychological distress and wellbeing are separable and related dimensions. This model contrasts with the unipolar model of mental health, which suggests that psychological distress and wellbeing are on opposite ends of the same continuum. The present study expands on the dual continua model of mental health literature within a rural clinical sample. Participants (n = 127) were categorized into 4 groups (higher and lower levels of anxiety and/or depression crossed with high and low levels of life satisfaction) and assessed on wellbeing indicators (gratitude and quality of life). Present results partially supported both the unipolar and dual continua model of mental health models. Specifically, consistent with the dual continua model of mental health, higher levels of psychological distress were not uniformly associated with lower levels of gratitude or quality of life, and conversely, lower levels of distress were not uniformly associated with higher levels of gratitude or quality of life. Consistent with the dual continua model of mental health and unipolar models of mental health, the low distress and high life satisfaction group reported higher levels of both gratitude and quality of life. Results extend the dual continua model of mental health literature in a rural, treatment-seeking sample. The results suggest wellbeing measures should be included when assessing and treating psychological distress in order to holistically treat the individual.