Emotion suppression and mortality risk over a 12-year follow-up.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Prospective non-randomized cohort study
PubMed 24119947 · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.07.014
What was done
Researchers analyzed data from 729 adults in the 1996 General Social Survey linked to the National Death Index through 2008 (12-year follow-up). Emotion suppression was measured at baseline using an emotion suppression scale. Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, and minority race/ethnicity were used to evaluate associations with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality.
What was found
Over 12 years, 111 total deaths occurred (37 CVD, 34 cancer). Comparing the 75th versus 25th percentile on the emotion suppression score: - All-cause mortality: Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.35 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.82; P = .049) - Cancer mortality: HR = 1.70 (95% CI: 1.01, 2.88; P = .049) - CVD mortality: HR = 1.47 (95% CI: 0.87, 2.47; P = .148)
Why it matters
This study provides prospective cohort evidence suggesting that habitual emotion suppression may be an independent risk factor for premature mortality, particularly cancer mortality.
Limits
The cohort had a modest sample size (n = 729) and few cause-specific mortality events (34 cancer deaths, 37 CVD deaths), resulting in wide confidence intervals and borderline statistical significance (P = .049). Emotion suppression was assessed at a single timepoint. The abstract reports adjustments only for demographic covariates (age, sex, education, race/ethnicity), leaving potential confounding from baseline health status and lifestyle factors unaddressed.
Cited by
- supports Scientific data demonstrate that suppressing or internalizing emotional pain and shame is associated with the development of physical disease.
- supports Expressing emotions promotes physical and mental health, whereas chronic emotional suppression is associated with increased mortality risk.