title: Suppression sours sacrifice: emotional and relational costs of suppressing emotions in romantic relationships.
abstract: What happens when people suppress their emotions when they sacrifice for a romantic partner? This multimethod study investigates how suppressing emotions during sacrifice shapes affective and relationship outcomes. In Part 1, dating couples came into the laboratory to discuss important romantic relationship sacrifices. Suppressing emotions was associated with emotional costs for the partner discussing his or her sacrifice. In Part 2, couples participated in a 14-day daily experience study. Within-person increases in emotional suppression during daily sacrifice were associated with decreases in emotional well-being and relationship quality as reported by both members of romantic dyads. In Part 3, suppression predicted decreases in relationship satisfaction and increases in thoughts about breaking up with a romantic partner 3 months later. In the first two parts of the study, authenticity mediated the costly effects of suppression. Implications for research on close relationships and emotion regulation are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. emily.impett@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Impett
authors.forename: Aleksandr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kogan
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: English
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oveis
authors.forename: Amie M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Dacher
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keltner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003380:Courtship / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012094:Repression, Psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities