The Culture-Specific Paradox of Expressive Suppression: When and Why Does Suppression Benefit Mental Health?

While Western research often frames expressive suppression as harmful (see Kshtriya et al., 2022; Rodríguez-Rey et al., 2024), preliminary evidence from cross-cultural studies (e.g., Robinson, 2024) and qualitative work suggests that in collectivist or high-context cultures, suppression may support social harmony and reduce distress. This project would use a combination of cross-cultural surveys, experiments, and qualitative interviews to systematically explore the psychological and social outcomes of suppression in East Asian, African, and Latin American populations, compared to Western contexts. It would also investigate the moderating roles of community support, family expectations, and social hierarchy. The project could yield a much-needed nuance in emotion regulation theory, showing that the adaptiveness of a strategy is deeply context-dependent.

References:

1. Cross-Cultural Differences in Emotional Regulation Strategies in United States. Harper Robinson (2024). International Journal of Psychology.
2. Investigating Strategies of Emotion Regulation As Mediators of Occupational Stressors and Mental Health Outcomes in First Responders. Sowmya Kshtriya, Jacqueline Lawrence, Holly M Kobezak, P. Popok, Sarah R. Lowe (2022). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
3. Predictors of mental health in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of experiential avoidance, emotion regulation and resilience.. R. Rodríguez-Rey, Marta Guerra Corral, Paula Collazo-Castiñeira, Silvia Collado, R. Caro-Carretero, Alexis Cantizano, Helena Garrido-Hernansaiz (2024). Journal of Advanced Nursing.