What do repressors know about appropriate coping with daily hassles?

This study investigates whether young adults who possess a repressive coping style differ from other individuals in their understanding of coping strategies, such as active influence or reappraisal. Ninety-five adults were divided into four groups according to their coping style and were asked to report their possible emotions, appraisals and coping strategies with reference to scenarios describing daily hassles. These data were combined into scores of coping appropriateness and linked to participants' affective state and well-being. Forty-seven participants completed the questionnaire again four months later. The results indicate that repressors' understanding of coping appropriateness is similar to that of non-defensive low anxious respondents. Overall, coping appropriateness did not predict 'anxiety' self-reported four months later when coping style was accounted for. These findings are discussed with respect to the over-optimistic and socially desirable way in which repressors tend to self-report stress and coping. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.