White Bears, Chronic Worriers, and the Need to Distinguish Thought Suppression from Intrusive Thoughts

Paradoxically, attempts to suppress thoughts may lead to thought intrusions. While this has been repeatedly shown in the laboratory, cross-sectional studies have relied on the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) to measure thought suppression (TS). However, it has been argued that the WBSI does not measure TS alone, but also unwanted intrusive thoughts (UIT). The current study was conducted in an undergraduate sample from Peru (n = 259). The objectives were (a) to examine the factor structure of the WBSI, (b) to determine if TS and UIT were significant predictors of worry, and (c) to test if worry moderated the association between TS and UIT. A structural equation modelling approach was followed. Results supported a two-factor structure of the WBSI (TS and UIT). Moreover, only UIT but not TS was a significant predictor of worry. Finally, worry did not moderate the link between TS and UIT.