Moderators of the Emotion Inhibition-Health Relationship: A Review and Research Agenda

The preponderance of a growing literature suggests that emotion inhibition is associated with poorer health. However, although inhibition and health are clearly related, the “inhibition hyhpothesis” has taken on the flavor of a contemporary dogma. Conceptual bases are accepted uncritically, and developments from other domains of psychology are incorporated in a selective, self-supporting, and unenlightening manner. Theories have been tested in homogenous samples, with little attention paid to possible contributions from ethnic diversity, developmental differences, or period effects. This article presents an evolutionary framework within which to consider these phenomena. It critiques the conceptual underpinnings of inhibition-health theories and provides a rationale for the expectation of moderator effects across cultures, individuals, and emotions. Directions for future empirical work are provided.