Expressive suppression of negative emotions in children and adolescents: Theory, data, and a guide for future research.

Abstract

In recent years, an increased interest in the importance of children's ability to regulate emotions in socially adaptive ways has driven considerable research on the development of emotion regulation. A widely studied emotion regulation strategy known as expressive suppression (ES), in which a person attempts to conceal emotion-expressive behavior, has been the focus of several recent studies of child and adolescent emotion regulation. Like much of the literature on children's emotion regulation strategies in general, this literature lacks a theoretical framework for organizing the findings, understanding their implications, and guiding future research (Cole, Martin, & Dennis, 2004). In the present review, we integrate theory and data on ES in childhood and adolescence using the process model of emotion regulation (Gross, 2015), a framework that is widely used in research with adults, to organize and interpret the findings. Specifically, the process model is used to understand what factors contribute to children's use of ES in a given context and when and why ES might be associated with negative emotional, social, cognitive, and physiological costs. We conclude by outlining an agenda for future research, noting major gaps in current knowledge, offering novel ways of thinking about ES in childhood, and highlighting new directions for moving the field forward. Research illuminating the developmental course and correlates of expressive suppression in early life can contribute to a deeper understanding of this emotion regulation strategy and can inform intervention efforts to improve outcomes across the life span.

Roles of Family Stress, Maltreatment, and Affect Regulation Difficulties on Adolescent Mental Health During COVID-19

“…A final contribution of this study is that it implicates affect dysregulation and suppression as potential mechanisms by which family stress from confinement and maltreatment are associated with adolescent mental health concerns. Most studies examining affect regulation difficulties measure dysregulation as a trait or individual factor, rather examining the context in which it occurs (Gross & Cassidy, 2019). Affect dysregulation can be seen as a reaction to an environmental trigger (e.g., increased stress at home) that precipitates an emotion (Gross, 1998), thereby explaining its indirect effect between family stress from confinement, maltreatment and adolescent mental health problems.…”

“…Affect dysregulation can be seen as a reaction to an environmental trigger (e.g., increased stress at home) that precipitates an emotion (Gross, 1998), thereby explaining its indirect effect between family stress from confinement, maltreatment and adolescent mental health problems. In comparison, suppression can be viewed as an adaptive reaction to being in a perceived environment in which a youth feels unsafe to express their emotions to their attachment figures (Gross & Cassidy, 2019). This is adaptive as expressing emotions in such an environment may result in further maltreatment or family stress as a caregiver is unable to cope with a youth's outburst (Gross & Cassidy, 2019).…”

“…In comparison, suppression can be viewed as an adaptive reaction to being in a perceived environment in which a youth feels unsafe to express their emotions to their attachment figures (Gross & Cassidy, 2019). This is adaptive as expressing emotions in such an environment may result in further maltreatment or family stress as a caregiver is unable to cope with a youth's outburst (Gross & Cassidy, 2019). It may also relieve the youth of the negative effects of feeling dysregulated in the short term.…”

“…Adolescents who can effectively regulate their affect are better equipped to manage difficult situations and stressors, thereby buffering against mental health difficulties (see Troy & Mauss, 2011, for a review). If caregivers are unable to provide sensitive responses to an adolescent's distress, however, youth may try to cope on their own, possibly resulting in affect dysregulation and/or suppression (Gross & Cassidy, 2019).…”

Progress in understanding the emergence of human emotion.

“…However, we do not know whether this is uniformly true for children. Gross and Cassidy (2019) grapple with this problem in their treatment of this under-studied strategy, noting its potential effectiveness for children and youth in certain situations. Still, many questions remain.…”