Distress Tolerance & Emotion Regulation as Potential Mediators Between Race-Based Traumatic Stress and Maladaptive Coping

A growing body of literature suggests that experiences of discrimination can result in race-based traumatic stress symptoms (RBTSS), which manifest in symptoms similar to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and secondary traumatic stress (STS). Currently, research on RBTSS has focused on construct conceptualization, and little is known about the coping strategies used by individuals who have RBTSS and how mechanisms associated with other forms of traumatic stress relate to RBTSS. We examined emotion regulation and distress tolerance as potential mediators between RBTSS and the utilization of maladaptive coping mechanisms. Participants of color (<i>N</i> = 220) completed self-report measures (online) of emotion regulation, distress tolerance, RBTSS, and coping behaviors. A parallel multiple mediator model was analyzed using structural equation modeling to investigate the hypothesis that distress tolerance and emotion regulation would act as mediators in the relationship between RBTSS and the use of maladaptive coping. Our hypothesis was partially supported as the effect of RBTSS on maladaptive coping was mediated by emotion regulation but not by distress tolerance. The findings of this study have important implications for research and intervention. Our results suggest that RBTSS share more similarities with STS than with PTSD in the context of maladaptive coping utilization. Regarding interventions, strategies for improving emotion regulation could be effective in decreasing the use of maladaptive coping strategies (e.g., self-blame and substance use) with this population.