The influence of distress tolerance on the relationship between expressive suppression and depressive symptoms

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between suppression of emotion expression, distress tolerance and depressive symptoms amongst a non-clinical population. Method: 82 young women participated in the study and several questionnaires were administered to measure: suppression of emotion expression, assessed by the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), distress tolerance, assessed by the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) and depressive symptoms, assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory Short Form (BDI-SF).

Results: It has been found a positive correlation between suppression of emotion expression and depressive symptoms, and a negative correlation between distress tolerance and depressive symptoms. No moderating effect of distress tolerance in the relationship between suppression of emotion expression and depressive symptoms was found.

Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that individuals who use maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, such as expressive suppression and individuals who are unable to tolerate negative emotions, are at risk of developing depressive symptoms. It might be beneficial for future research to involve a clinical population and to examine more maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and compare these, in the relationship with depressive symptoms.