title: Expressive inhibition in response to stress: implications for emotional processing following trauma.
abstract: Expressive inhibition--the willful restriction of expressed emotion--is documented in individuals reporting trauma-related distress, but its impact on global affective functioning remains unclear. Theoretical models propose that chronic activation of negative emotion and deliberate restriction of affect operate synergistically to produce trauma-related emotional deficits. The current project examined the impact of these factors on subjective experience and physiological activation following exposure to an analog trauma. University students (N=192; Mage=20, 57% female, 42% White/Non-Hispanic) viewed a graphic film depicting scenes of a televised suicide. Participants then viewed either a sadness- or humor-eliciting film under instructions to inhibit [nsadness=45, nhumor=52] or naturally express emotion [nsadness=48, nhumor=47]. Expressive inhibition was associated with restricted amusement specifically among participants viewing the humor film. Inhibition also produced attenuated sympathetic and parasympathetic recovery, irrespective of film assignment. Evidence of disruptions in emotional processing supports models identifying inhibition as a possible mechanism in post-trauma affect dysregulation.
authors.affiliation: University at Buffalo, SUNY, Department of Psychology, Park Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States. Electronic address: jclapp@uwyo.edu.
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Clapp
authors.affiliation: University of Memphis, Department of Psychology, 202 Psychology Building, Memphis, TN 38152, United States. Electronic address: samantha.patton@louisville.edu.
authors.forename: Samantha C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.affiliation: University of Memphis, Department of Psychology, 202 Psychology Building, Memphis, TN 38152, United States. Electronic address: jgbeck@memphis.edu.
authors.forename: J Gayle
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Beck
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D009040:Motion Pictures; D057566:Self Report; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Emotion regulation; Expressive inhibition; PTSD; Trauma