Are suppression and repressive coping related?

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.