Are suppression and repressive coping related?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between suppression and repressive coping. The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (Marlowe-Crowne) and the Bendig version of the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale (MAS) were used to select repressor and control groups, who completed a measure of suppression, the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale (CECS). Results showed that there were no group differences on the depression and anger scales of the CECS, although repressors (high Marlowe-Crowne, low MAS) and low-anxious (low Marlowe-Crowne, low MAS) scored significantly lower on the CECS Anxiety scale than the high anxious group (low Marlowe-Crowne, high MAS) and defensive high anxious group (high Marlowe-Crowne, high MAS). The results suggest that repressive coping and suppression are different constructs and that the CECS may bypass repressors' tendency to answer self-report instruments in a positive fashion. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.