Evaluation of a model of distress related to tinnitus

This study tested a theoretical model of tinnitus-related distress and of general distress that involved acceptance of tinnitus symptoms and emotional intelligence as factors that may protect against such distress. One hundred and sixty-two tinnitus sufferers from throughout Australia completed measures of acceptance of tinnitus symptoms, emotional intelligence, tinnitus-related distress, and general distress. As hypothesized, greater acceptance of tinnitus symptoms was associated with less tinnitus related distress. Emotional intelligence was not associated with tinnitus distress. Greater acceptance and less tinnitus distress were both associated with less general distress, and the association between acceptance and general distress was mediated by tinnitus-related distress. The findings, which provide partial support for the tested model, may have implications for efforts to assist distressed tinnitus sufferers.