Distress tolerance, anxiety-related symptoms, stress, and depression among dropout and non-dropout university students: a mediation analysis Authors Qasir Abbas Department of Applied Psychology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan Iqra Latif Department of Applied Psychology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan Mehwish Muneer Department of Applied Psychology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan Muhammad Umar Khan Department of Applied Psychology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan Khawer Bilal Baig Department of Psychology, Bahria University Lahore Campus, Lahore, Pakistan DOI: https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.6557 Abstract This study explores the relationship between distress tolerance and depression with mediating role of anxiety-related symptoms and stress among dropout and non-dropout university students. This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2019 to December 2020. Participants' age ranged between 20-40 years. Data was collected using the Distress Tolerance Scale and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale. Descriptive, t-test, and mediation analyses were performed to calculate the results. A sample of 500 respondents was recruited. A significant difference was noted between dropout and non-dropout students on CGPA (p<.001), depression (p<.001), anxiety (p<.001), stress (p<.001), tolerance (p<.001), absorption (p<.001), appraisal (p<.001), and distress tolerance (p<.001). Mediation analysis reveals that stress and anxiety significantly mediates between distress tolerance and depressive symptoms (i.e., F (498) = 31.14, p< .001; F (498) =34.14, p< .001; F (496) = 161.21, p< .001). It is concluded that low distress tolerance increases stress and anxiety, triggering depressive symptoms. Downloads Full Text Article Published 2023-03-15 How to Cite Qasir Abbas, Latif, I., Muneer, M., Khan, M. U., & Baig, K. B. (2023). Distress tolerance, anxiety-related symptoms, stress, and depression among dropout and non-dropout university students: a mediation analysis. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 73(4), 882–885. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.6557 More Citation Formats ACM ACS APA ABNT Chicago Harvard IEEE MLA Turabian Vancouver Download Citation Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS) BibTeX Issue Vol. 73 No. 4 (2023): April Section SHORT COMMUNICATION License Copyright (c) 2023 Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.