Emotional Suppression Research Articles

Psychometric Evaluation of the Thai Male Depression Risk Scale (MDRS-TH)

Previous studies have reported that males frequently suffer from major depression. However, due to the norms of masculine roles, in which emphasis is placed in displaying strength, invulnerability, and control, the ways that some men exhibit depression may differ from traditional diagnostic symptoms of major depressive disorder. To this end, the Male Depression Risk Scale (MDRS) has been developed in order to better identify those men, who experience low moods and are at risk for suicide. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Thai version of the MDRS (MDRS-TH). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 600 participants, who were recruited through social media (male N=300). The average age was 38.74 years. About half of the participants were married (51.5%). The majority identified themselves as Buddhist (94.66%) and had completed postgraduate education (31.16%). The samples had a variety of occupations, including farmer, employee, student, retired, own business, etc. The data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and criterion-related validity using Pearson's correlation. The overall analysis (N=600) found that the MDRS-TH was consistent with the empirical data (CFI=0.918, TLI=0.905, SRMR=0.05, and RMSEA=0.05). The final model consisted of 5 components: 1) emotional suppression, 2) alcohol use, 3) anger & aggression, 4) somatic symptoms, and 5) risk-taking behaviors. The internal consistency of the MDRS-TH total score was 0.89, and the correlation criterion-related validity with the PHQ-9 was r=0.77. The results supported the fact that the MDRS-TH is a useful screening tool. Utilizing the MDRS-TH in primary care settings may assist to identify those men who are at risk for male-specific symptoms of depression so that early identification and intervention can be facilitated. In future studies, the generalizability of the scale would be strengthened if efforts to improve cross-cultural validation involving different cultural groups in Thailand were prioritized.

Abstract PO1-11-04: Breast cancer patient perspectives on the need for psychotherapy and the roll of physician referrals for improved quality of life during and post treatment

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine what factors may influence emotional suppression and emotional expression in breast cancer patients and how coping styles relate to beliefs about physician-driven referrals to therapy during the cancer treatment process to improve quality of life during and after breast cancer treatment. Methods: A mixed method research design consisting of quantitative methods including a demographics survey, the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale and treatment preference questionnaires followed by optional participation in a semi-structured interview. Sixty-nine participants who met the inclusion criteria were selected as the quantitative study sample and 27 participated in interviews to further discuss their personal views on therapy during breast cancer treatment, beliefs about physician-driven referrals and experiences of coping throughout and post-cancer treatment. Results: Demographic variables including age, marital status, income, and experience of psychotherapy prior to breast cancer diagnosis are statically significant factors that influence CECS scores and coping styles. Thematic narrative analysis of interviews revealed both Expressers and Suppressors recounted experiencing the ‘Elsa effect’, a term coined to describe emotional concealment as a form of emotionally protecting self and others and reported that a physician driven referral to therapy would have been helpful in terms with coping and improving quality of life. Participants universally believed that there should be some level of psychotherapy referrals for supportive mental health care during and after the treatment process. Types of supports to which they wanted to be referred, how referrals are made, why referrals are needed, language used when making referrals, what medium through which therapeutic support should be offered, and whether or not therapy referrals should be mandated were all discussed. Physician stigma related to psychotherapy was also suggested as a possible barrier. Conclusions: Overwhelmingly, participants who fell into either category of emotional suppressor or emotional expresser believed that there should be physician driven referrals to therapy during the breast cancer treatment process as part of best practices for improved quality of life. Both those identified as suppressors and expressers indicated high rates of concealing one’s true emotional experience. This highlights the need for psychological therapy referrals to be integrated as a best practice, regardless of patient’s identified coping style or demographic identities. Referral sources should be mindful of language used, patient ability to access to services and other factors as part of the referral process. Citation Format: Joyce Williams, Beth Counselman-Carpenter, William Burak. Breast cancer patient perspectives on the need for psychotherapy and the roll of physician referrals for improved quality of life during and post treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-11-04.

Factors and Coping Styles Related to Breast Cancer Patients’ Preferences About Referrals to Psychotherapy as part of Treatment

Background: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine what factors may influence emotional suppression and emotional expression in breast cancer patients and how coping styles relate to beliefs about physician-driven referrals to therapy. Methods: A mixed method research design consisting of quantitative methods including a demographics survey, the Courtald Emotional Control Scale and treatment preference questionnaires followed by optional participation in a semi-structured interview. Results: Demographic variables including age, marital status, income, and experience of psychotherapy prior to breast cancer diagnosis are statically significant factors that influence CECS scores and coping styles. Participants universally believed that there should be some level of psychotherapy referrals for supportive mental health care during and after the treatment process. Conclusion: Participants who fell into either category of emotional suppressor or emotional expresser believed that there should be physician driven referrals to therapy during the breast cancer treatment process. Both those identified as suppressors and expressers indicated high rates of concealing one’s true emotional experience. This highlights the need for psychological therapy referrals to be integrated as a best practice, regardless of patient’s identified coping style or demographic identities. We suggest that all breast cancer patients be screened at multiple points and offered a referral by every member of their treatment team: regardless of how they seem to cope and that future research focus on the most efficient and holistic ways to decrease barriers to receiving psychological support during and after breast cancer treatment.

Somatoform Symptoms and Functional Impairments During Middle Childhood

Abstract: Theoretical Background: Studies have shown that attachment is associated with somatoform symptoms in childhood, yet factors that mediate the association need to be explored. Objective: To examine emotion regulation strategies as a mediator between insecure attachment dimensions and somatoform symptoms and symptom-related impairments in quality of life (QoL). Method: A total of 221 fourth-grade school children in Germany completed the SOMS-KJ, FEEL-KJ, and ECR-RC. Results: In the path model, attachment-related anxiety was positively associated with social support seeking and emotional expression, while attachment-related avoidance was negatively associated with these, yet positively associated with emotional suppression. Both emotional suppression and social support seeking were positively associated with somatoform symptoms and symptom-related impaired QoL. Discussion and Conclusion: Differential pathways exist from insecure attachment dimensions to increased somatoform symptoms, indicating that children require specialized emotion competence training.

A conceptual framework on pre- and post-displacement stressors: the case of Syrian refugees.

Researchers have documented multiple stressors and mental health problems along the journey of refugees as they are displaced to seek refuge in nearby and remote host countries. This article examines published research on Syrian refugees to propose a framework to conceptualize Syrian refugees' pre- and post-stressors and their collective impact on their mental health. The proposed framework provides a comprehensive understanding of the interconnected pathways between pre-displacement stressors, post-displacement stressors, and mental health outcomes for Syrian refugees. Pre-displacement stressors are best captured by the concept of trauma centrality and emotional suppression. Post-displacement stressors, categorized under financial, political, and social themes, have a direct impact on the mental health of the refugees, but could also play a partial mediating role on the impact of pre-displacement stressors on mental health. The framework suggests a direct pathway between the experience of war-related traumatic events and mental health and introduces the country of residence as a potential moderator of the severity of mental health. The latter is primarily influenced by local policies and the host communities' acceptance of refugees. We believe that the proposed framework can guide the work of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners concerned with the mental health and well-being of Syrian refugees. Additionally, although based on the experience of Syrian refugees, it presents a holistic perspective that could be adapted in other refugee settings.

Emotion regulation as a mediator in the relationship between early dysfunctional schemas and emotional dependence in young Spaniards

Several studies show that emotional dependence is a relevant problem because of its consequences in all areas of life. Early cognitive schemas and difficulties in emotional regulation are some of the factors involved in its aetiology. The aims of the present study were to analyse the relationship between these variables, hypothesising that difficulties in emotional regulation mediate the relationship between early dysfunctional schemas and emotional dependence. The sample consisted of 711 young Spanish participants aged between 18-30 years, with an average age of 21.32 years (SD= 2.94). The results showed a positive correlation between the three variables and that difficulties in emotional regulation mediated the relationship between early dysfunctional schemas and emotional dependence in the case of Abandonment, Dependence, Subjugation, Emotional inhibition, Insufficient self-control, Defectiveness and Self-sacrifice This study gives us a clearer picture of how these variables are related and provides information that could be of great use in assisting people with emotional dependence.

Exploring the Interplay Between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Depression: A Comparative Analysis

IntroductionDepression, a pervasive mood disorder, significantly impairs one’s quality of life. Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS), ingrained thought patterns stemming from early life experiences, play a pivotal role in shaping adult beliefs and behaviors. This study delves into the relevance of specific EMS domains—Emotional Inhibition (EI), Negativity/Pessimism (NP), and Social Isolation/Alienation (SI)—in influencing the severity of depression among medical students and diagnosed patients.ObjectivesOur primary goal was to assess the correlation between specific EMS domains and depression severity in medical students and clinically diagnosed patients. We aimed to elucidate whether these schemas could serve as indicators for potential depressive tendencies or if they had a stronger association in those already diagnosed with depression.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cross-sectional analysis involving 73 medical students and 61 diagnosed depression patients (aged 18-32). Four key variables—Depression, EI, NP, and SI—were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-2 and The Young Schema Questionnaire-Short-form-3 in the Romanian context. Statistical analyses, including correlation coefficients and t-tests, were employed to explore the relationships between EMS domains and depression severity.ResultsIn the non-clinical sample, we identified moderate, statistically significant correlations between depression and EI (r=0.63), NP (r=0.71), and SI (r=0.59). Conversely, the clinical sample exhibited slightly weaker, yet significant correlations (EI-r=0.42, NP-r=0.39, SI-r=0.29). Notably, significant differences emerged between the groups in all measured variables. These findings imply that while a positive correlation between EMS variables and depression exists in both samples, the association weakens in diagnosed patients, indicating that these schemas may be less predictive in this population.ConclusionsOur study underscores the importance of understanding EMS domains in assessing depression severity. While specific schemas—EI, NP, and SI—correlate with depression in both medical students and diagnosed patients, this link is notably weaker in the latter group. Elevated EMS variables suggest a potential for future subclinical depression in medical students, but they might not strongly predict depression in those already diagnosed. These nuanced insights have implications for preventive interventions and therapeutic approaches tailored to individuals at different stages of depression, thereby enhancing targeted mental health care strategies.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

الكبح الانفعالي لدى طلبة المرحلة الاعدادية

يهدف البحث الحالي التعرف على :- ١- مستوى الكبح الانفعالي لدى طلبة المرحلة الاعدادية 2- الفروق ذات الدلالة الاحصائية في الكبح الانفعالي لدى طلبة المرحلة الاعدادية تبعاً للمتغيرات التالية الجنس(ذكور – اناث) والتخصص(علمي – ادبي) المرحلة ( الرابع – الخامس). لتحقيق اهداف البحث استعمل الباحث منهج البحث الوصفي الذي يعد من اكثر المناهج انتشارا واعتمادا في البحوث التربوية والنفسية واختير حجم عينة البحث الحالي بطريقة العشوائية ذات التوزيع المتناسب بلغ حجم العينة (٤0٠) طالب وطالبة اعتمد الباحث مقياس( طالب ،٢٠١٣) المتكون من (24) فقرة وبعد استخراج الخصائص السايكومترية المقياس اصبح المقياس بصيغته النهائية يتكون من( 24) فقرة لتطبيقه على العينة. وفي ضوء نتائج البحث التي تم التوصل اليها في البحث الحالي يوصي الباحث بعدد من التوصيات منها ١_ ضرورة اتباع الاساليب التربوية السليمة الفعالة والطرائق التعليمية الجيدة مع الطلبة لتجنب الوقوع بالمشكلات الاجتماعية المختلفة ٢_ عقد ندوات ولقاءات مع الطلبة وتوجيههم نحو السلوكيات المرغوبة داخل الجامعة وخارجها اي البيئة المحيطة بالطلبة ٣_ عمل برامج إرشادية وقائية حول كيفية التحقق من الكبح الانفعالي وتنمية مهارات التفكير الحاذق عند الطلبة

Quality of Life and Its Psychosocial Predictors among Patients with Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction: A Comparison with Age- and Sex-Matched Controls.

The disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) are a heterogeneous group of chronic conditions that greatly reduce patients' quality of life (QoL). To date, biopsychosocial factors (such as gastrointestinal symptoms, alexithymia, and interpersonal problems) are believed to contribute to the development and maintenance of DGBIs, but their role in affecting patients' QoL is still under investigation. Out of 141 patients seeking treatment for their gastrointestinal symptoms, 71 were diagnosed with a DGBI (47 females, 66.2%; Mage: 41.49 ± 17.23 years) and were age- and sex-matched to 71 healthy controls (47 females, 66.2%; Mage: 40.45 ± 16.38 years) without any current gastrointestinal symptom or diagnosis. Participants completed a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and a survey investigating several psychosocial risk factors. We found greater symptom severity and difficulties in identifying feelings among patients compared to controls. Further, multiple linear regression analyses evidenced that, among patients, higher expressive suppression of emotions, difficulties in identifying feelings and interpersonal problems, and a lower cognitive reappraisal of emotions predicted lower QoL. Data suggest that the QoL of patients with DGBIs is affected not only by common risk factors (e.g., interpersonal problems) but also by specific difficulties in processing and regulating emotions. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Predictors Among Spanish Police and Armed Forces During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain.

To assess the psychological impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the police and armed forces. Participants ( N = 242) completed an online survey that assessed posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), burnout, emotional suppression, and labor and sociodemographic variables. Mean difference, correlation, and stepwise linear regression tests were performed. One-third of participants showed severe PTSS, linked to patrolling duties, very frequent contact with other people, fear of contagion, perceived pandemic severity, living with at-risk people, taking a COVID-19 test, working more than normal, suffering an assault, having little vacation, and having to distance from loved ones. PTSS also correlated with the burnout dimensions and emotional suppression. Three-quarters had not received any support from their workplace. Effective interventions to optimize these professionals' personal, social, and working conditions are needed.

The Effectiveness of Pilates Exercises on Emotion Regulation and Distress Tolerance in Students with Premenstrual Syndrome

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Pilates exercises on emotion regulation and distress tol89erance in female students with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods: The present study used a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a nonequivalent control group. The research population consisted of female students with PMS at the Islamic Azad University of Doroud during the academic year of 2021- 2022. A convenience sampling method was employed, and 30 individuals were selected and randomly assigned to either the Pilates or control group. The research tools included the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST), Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). These tools were administered to both the Pilates group and the control group in 3 stages: pretest, posttest, and follow-up. Pilates exercises were taught to the Pilates group by a professional instructor at the university gymnasium. Data analysis for this study was conducted using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS version 22. Results: The findings showed that considering P≤0.05, there were significant changes in the variable of emotion regulation. In the Pilates group, the mean score of the emotion suppression subscale increased from 12 in the pretest to 15.33 in the posttest and 16.8 in the follow-up. Similarly, the mean score of the emotion reappraisal subscale increased from 22.4 in the pretest to 26.26 in the posttest and 26.06 in the follow-up. Additionally, the distress tolerance in the Pilates group showed an increase from 40.93 in the pretest to 47.06 in the posttest and 47 in the follow-up. Conclusion: Pilates exercise has an effective role in improving emotion regulation and distress tolerance in female students with PMS.

Executive Functions and Competitive Attitudes in Near-Elite Ice Hockey Players

Abstract Ice hockey is considered one of the most competitive sports, and it requires physical and mental preparation to perform appropriately under the pressure of a competitive environment. The present study aims to investigate the impact of competitive sports on executive functions such as emotion regulation, inhibitory control, working memory, and competitive attitudes among near-elite ice hockey players. Near-elite athletes have been gathered (N = 67) from the four Hungarian Ice-Hockey Academies. Our results indicated a small positive association between Canadian points and maladaptive emotion regulation and a slight positive correlation between maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation and false alarms of the N-back task. The result revealed a significant difference between National and Non-National Team members in maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation regarding hypercompetitive attitude. The result of linear regression revealed that maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation significantly predicts false alarms, indicating that the maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation explains 10% of the variance. In conclusion, we highlight the role of the environment, which affects executive functions and competitive attitudes alongside sports performance. Although the findings were mainly correlational, we can conclude that the nature of competitive ice hockey expects certain behavior for the players indifferent of the situation that could lead to emotion suppression, rumi-nation and other maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. We can also conclude that inadequate emotion regulation might be related to the overstimulation of players, characterized by a hypersensitive state to stimuli. We suggest that practitioners ensure the development of adequate competitive attitudes of players to enable long-term physical and psychological benefits.

Peer Stress Spills Over to Family Stress in the Context of Emotion Regulation Difficulties: A Daily Diary Study with Chinese Adolescents

Conflict in peer and family relationships becomes more common in the adolescent period when compared to previous developmental periods. These typical developmental challenges can be exacerbated in the context of poor emotion regulation skills. Using daily diary data, the current study examined the stress spillover effects of peer and family stress on one another, as well as the moderating role of emotion regulation challenges (i.e., emotional inhibition, dysregulation). A sample of 310 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 13.02 years, SD = 0.76 years, 50.7% boys) completed an initial measure of emotion regulation difficulties, then reported on peer and family stress for 10 consecutive weekdays. Results indicated that there was an overall same-day peer stress spillover effect in which adolescents’ peer stress on a given day was negatively associated with later conflictual interactions with their parents. Further, the relation between peer stress and same- and next-day family stress was exacerbated in the context of high levels of emotional inhibition. Family stress did not significantly relate to next-day peer stress, nor was this association moderated by difficulties with emotion regulation. These results highlight the temporal sequence of daily peer-to-family stress spillover. Though emotional inhibition may be culturally adaptive for maintaining interpersonal harmony, it can be maladaptive in managing stress for Chinese adolescents.

Exploring the Links between Physical Activity, Emotional Regulation, and Mental Well-Being in Jordanian University Students.

Background: University students face multiple stressors that negatively impact their mental well-being. Effective emotional regulation and physical activity are crucial for mood management and overall health. This study explored the connection between physical activity, emotional regulation, and mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety, and stress) in Jordanian university students. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey involved 416 students (146 male and 270 female) from Jordanian universities. The survey covered demographics, physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), emotional regulation strategies (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire), and mental health symptoms (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales). Pearson's correlations examined relationships, and ANOVA compared differences in 'low', 'medium', and 'high' physical activity groups. Results: Greater use of expressive suppression was correlated with increased anxiety symptom severity (p = 0.029). Although physical activity levels were not significantly related to emotional regulation, the 'high' physical activity group reported lower depression (p < 0.001) and anxiety symptom severity (p < 0.001) than the 'low' and 'medium' groups. Conclusions: Increased physical activity and emotional expression suppression are independently associated with improved mental well-being in Jordanian university students. This study underscores the importance of integrating physical activity and emotional expression strategies to support student well-being.

The impact of culture on Emotion Suppression: Insights from an Electrophysiological Study of Emotion Regulation in Japan

Prior theory and evidence suggest that native East Asians tend to down-regulate their negative emotional arousal through expressive suppression, an emotion regulation technique focused on suppressing one’s emotional experience. One proposed explanation for this choice and effectiveness of regulation strategy is rooted in their commitment to the cultural value of interdependence with others. However, prior work has not yet thoroughly supported this hypothesis using in vivo neural correlates of emotion regulation. Here, we utilized an established electroencephalogram (EEG) correlate of emotional arousal, the late positive potential (LPP), to examine whether down-regulation of the LPP in native East Asians might be particularly pronounced for those high in interdependent self-construal. Here, 52 native Japanese participants attempted to suppress their emotional reaction to unpleasant images during EEG recording. In support of the hypothesis that emotion suppression among native East Asians is influenced by the cultural value of interdependence, there was a significant effect of interdependent self-construal on the LPP. Specifically, those high in interdependent self-construal had a smaller LPP for unpleasant pictures when instructed to suppress emotions than when watching the stimuli naturally. However, this effect was negligible for those low in interdependent self-construal, suggesting that cultural values impact the efficacy of different in vivo emotion regulation techniques. These results demonstrate the importance of identifying correspondence between self-report measures and in vivo correlates of emotion regulation in cross-cultural research.

How Attachment Styles Influence Emotional Regulation of Young Adults in Srilanka

This research is a cross-sectional quantitative study which investigates how attachment styles influence the emotional regulation of young adults in SriLanka. The aim of this research is to understand the impact of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance on cognitive appraisal and emotional suppression. For this purpose, a survey research design was utilized and a sample size of 147 young adults selected though convenient sampling and they completed an online questionnaire on attachment style, and emotional regulation. The questionnaire was based on predeveloped 7-point Likert scales, The Experiences in Close Relationship Scale short version (ECR-SV) to measure attachment styles and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) to measure emotional regulation. This research found attachment anxiety and avoidance had a negative impact on using reappraisal while Attachment anxiety showed a greater negative impact on reappraisal. Also, it was found attachment anxiety and avoidance had a positive impact on using emotional suppression while avoidance showed a significant greater positive impact on suppression. However, the current research was not able to find out the impact of secure attachment on ER dimensions due to the questionnaire used, therefore future research should examine the impact of secure attachment on ER dimensions. A significant factor derived from the results is that, it’s important to design interventions that focus on improving ER in order to address difficulties with ER for those with attachment problems.&#x0D;

Effects of Emotionally Focused Therapy on Emotional Autonomy and Emotion Regulation of Students with Depression Symptoms

Background: Social anxiety disorder, lack of emotional autonomy, and depression can all negatively affect the abilities and, ultimately, the fate of adolescents. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of emotionally focused therapy (EFT) on the emotional autonomy and emotion regulation of students with depression symptoms. Methods: This quasi-experimental research adopted a pretest-posttest control group design with follow-up. The statistical population included all high school students with depression symptoms in Ahvaz, (Iran) in the academic year 2022–2023. The purposive sampling technique was employed to select 30 students with depression symptoms. They were then randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). Participants in the experimental group attended ten 45-minute sessions of EFT once a week, whereas those in the control group were placed on a waiting list. The research instruments included the Emotional Autonomy Scale (EAS) and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). The obtained data were entered into the SPSS v23. The repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was then used to analyze the research data. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean ± SD of emotional autonomy, reappraisal, and suppression was 24.60 ± 3.96, 21.53 ± 2.99, and 18.93 ± 2.21 on the pretest, whereas it was 31.53 ± 4.30, 29.60 ± 2.47, and 12.00±2.00 on the posttest. According to the results, EFT enhanced emotional autonomy and improved emotion regulation strategies (i.e., reappraisal and suppression) in students with depression symptoms (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: In conclusion, EFT managed to improve emotional autonomy and emotion regulation strategies in students with depression symptoms. EFT can be recommended as an effective intervention to improve emotion regulation in students with depression symptoms.

‘Hazardous on My Soul’: (Dis)compassion and Emotive Dissonance in Prison Work

Abstract A history of social research has aimed to illuminate consequences for the psyche of workers that carry out occupations in dehumanizing contexts. In criminology, scholarship has detailed concern over how carceral contexts produce detriment via emotional labour for workers. Although prison work has been shown to necessitate emotional suppression, studies also find workers can bear intimacy for the incarcerated. We contribute to the prison scholarship by illustrating these emotive paradoxes that represent dissonance for staff. We draw from 18 focus groups of staff, to examine how emotive dissonance manifests from contradictory feeling rules in prison work. We explore emotive disharmony among the workgroup that comes from opposing feeling rules, and, we explore how workers experience with emotive dissonance manifests as emotional estrangement. Our findings help contemplate the implications of navigating emotion within dehumanizing contexts and illustrate that how staff treat the incarcerated has implications for their own sense of humanity.

Emotional inhibition mediates the relationship between maternal postpartum security and pregnancy distress in China: A cross-sectional study.

Pregnancy and childbirth bring not only joy but also a concomitant sense of insecurity, which may adversely affect health, role adaptation, and relationships. This study aimed to explore the risk factors for postpartum mothers' sense of security. This cross-sectional study used questionnaires on Parents' Postnatal Sense of Security, Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale, and the Emotional Inhibition Scale. Structural equation modeling was used to calculate the mediating effect. The mean postnatal maternal security value was 44.77 ± 9.02. Multiple regression analyses revealed that several factors, including companionship of the partner during pregnancy, number of prenatal visits accompanied by the partner, complications during pregnancy, pregnancy distress, and emotional inhibition, independently predicted maternal security. Moreover, our structural equation model revealed that emotional inhibition significantly influenced maternal postpartum security directly (β = -0.30, P < 0.001). In addition, pregnancy distress affected maternal security directly (β = -0.45, P < 0.001) and indirectly (β = -0.129, P < 0.001) through emotional inhibition. This study indicated a lower level of postpartum maternal sense of security. Emotional inhibition partially mediates the relationship between postpartum maternal sense of security and pregnancy distress. Therefore, health care professionals providing guidance to pregnant and postpartum women on proper emotional regulation and early identification of pregnancy distress may be more effective in enhancing their postpartum sense of security.

Black Women as Superwomen? The Mental Health Effects of Superwoman Schema, Socioeconomic Status, and Financial Strain

Abstract Informed by Black feminist thought and intersectionality, Superwoman Schema (SWS) is a construct that captures a collective response of Black women to racial and gender marginalization by highlighting expectations that they exude strength, suppress emotions, resist vulnerability, succeed despite limitations, and help others to their own self-neglect. Using a sample of Black women (N = 390) in early-midlife (between 30 and 46 years old; M = 37.54 years; SD = 4.29), this study integrates the intersectionality framework and the stress process model to examine the independent and interactive effects of SWS endorsement as well as socioeconomic status (SES) and financial strain on Black women’s mental health. Study results reveal that SWS dimensions “emotion suppression” and “obligation to help others” are associated with elevated depressive symptoms. In addition, net worth and financial strain, but not traditional measures of socioeconomic status such as education and income, moderate the association between SWS endorsement and depressive symptoms. Specifically, the association between SWS and depressive symptoms is strongest among Black women reporting negative net worth or high financial strain (e.g., not being able to make ends meet). Broader implications and future research directions are discussed.