Repression Revisited

This study extends the operational definition of repression (proposed by Weinberger and his colleagues) to negative emotions other than anxiety. It then relates this measure to the responses to cancer of 67 male and female patients. Repressors differed from patients with other coping styles; they reported fewer and less severe side effects of treatment and less information exchange (communication) with significant others. These findings are discussed in relation to other research on differences in the way people tolerate and report physical sensations.