Distress can be defined as having subjective experiences of stress, mood problems, and problems with self-efficacy. Distress is the effect of an unpleasant and undesirable experience. Distress can be the result of events that are seen as threatening or particularly life-altering. Distress causes anxiety or concern. It can be short- or long-term and is perceived as outside of the person coping abilities.
Social distress or impairment has been associated with the symptoms of depression and has previously been studied in humans using social acceptance and social rejection. Social distress can stem from difficult social interactions, for example, a conflictual or tumultuous marital or family relationship.
In school for example, this kind of distress manifests as a rejection of all school activities, to the point that it hinders the student’s use and development of his/her cognitive, affective and relation abilities.
Major life events including interpersonal loss and social rejection are very strong risk factors for depression. Stressors of this nature, known as targeted rejection life events, are associated with a 22-fold increase in the risk of developing MDD (major depressive disorder).
Social distress has been pointed to as a major threat to self-regulation. Being in a negative mood increases the likelihood of self-regulation failure, such that dieters eat more, alcoholics report a greater craving for alcohol, and smokers experience a greater desire to smoke.
Social distress
