New Research from Steinhardt Explores When Suppressing Emotions Impacts Mental Health

Expressive suppression, the act of inhibiting outward emotional expression, has long been associated with poorer mental health outcomes. However, the researchers sought to move beyond the assumption that suppression is universally maladaptive. Instead, Xu suggests readers should consider for whom and when suppression is maladaptive, noting that it can sometimes serve a specific contextual demand, such as maintaining social harmony or focusing on solving a problem. Their findings suggest that the psychological impact of suppression depends heavily on how individuals relate to their emotions internally.

Drawing from survey data collected from 483 first-year college students over the course of the Fall 2020 semester, the study found that greater expressive suppression predicted higher levels of anxiety and depression and lower life satisfaction over time. At the same time, two important individual factors shaped those outcomes: authenticity and ambivalence over emotional expression.

Students who reported a stronger sense of authenticity—or feeling aligned with their true selves—experienced fewer negative mental health effects associated with engaging in emotion suppression. Zhang defines authenticity as “the sense that your actions are aligned with who you are, your values, and what feels true to you,” and says that the research findings “suggest that suppressing emotions may be less harmful when it is a deliberate, value-consistent choice.” 

In contrast, students who felt conflicted or uncertain about expressing emotions were more likely to experience poorer psychological outcomes when suppressing emotions. Zhang describes this "ambivalence over emotional expression" as a taxing internal "tug-of-war" where an individual wants to express a feeling but simultaneously feels guilty, worried, or reluctant to do so.

The findings point toward a more individualized and nuanced understanding of emotion regulation and mental health. Rather than labeling emotion suppression as inherently harmful, the study highlights the importance of considering cultural context, self-congruence, and personal attitudes toward emotional expression. Specifically, research has consistently shown that the link between suppression and poor mental health is often non-significant among Asian and Asian American adults. In these cultural contexts, suppression may be used to maintain social harmony, aligning with specific collectivistic values.

These insights may also carry important implications for clinical practice. By recognizing that people experience and manage emotions differently, clinicians may be better equipped to help clients develop strategies that feel both psychologically supportive and personally authentic.