The relationship between secondary emotions arising from the suppression of emotions and mental health or adjustment

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between the secondary emotions caused by suppressing primary emotions (and the “double suppression” of suppressing secondary emotions) and mental health or adjustment. Participants (N=253) completed a questionnaire package containing: (1) items about the tendency to suppress emotions, (2) experiences and frequency of secondary emotions, (3) frequency of double suppression, (4) a scale of overall mental health (GHQ28), and (5) a scale assessing adjustment(measuring one's sense of basic trust). The frequency of secondary emotions caused by suppressing negative emotions, but not the tendency of emotional suppression itself, was associated with mental unhealthiness and maladjustment. The importance of this distinction that mental health and adjustment may be related to the frequency of secondary emotions rather than emotional suppression per se is discussed.