The Role of Culture and Self-Construal in the Link Between Expressive Suppression and Depressive Symptoms

The majority of research on expressive suppression and health outcomes has been conducted in the United States, but little is known about how expressive suppression relates to the functioning of individuals living in other parts of the world. To address this gap, we conducted a cross-cultural study of Chinese Singaporean and European American college students, focusing on the relation between frequency of expressive suppression and self-reported depressive symptoms. Consistent with self-construal theory, the suppression-depression link depends on cultural background and the type of emotion involved. Expressive suppression involving positive socially disengaging emotions (e.g., pride) was associated with higher depressive symptoms for European Americans but not for Chinese Singaporeans. This cultural difference was mediated by independent self-construal. No cultural differences were found in the suppression-depression link when positive socially engaging emotions (e.g., respect) were involved. These findings underscore the importance of developing a more nuanced understanding of the relation between expressive suppression and psychological functioning to better inform theory and practice.