Repression questionnaires compared

Literature on repression is abundant with terms such as repression, non-expression of negative emotions, emotional control, rationality, type C response style and defensiveness. However, it is uncertain whether these terms are synonymous with repression, denote a variation, or are essentially different from repression. In addition, a multitude of questionnaires has been developed in this field, which presents yet another problem for evaluating studies. Elsewhere we have discussed overlap of and differences between the various repression-related concepts (Garssen, 2007a) and critically reviewed eleven repression-related questionnaires (Garssen, 2009). The present study compares various repression questionnaires in two groups of women with breast cancer (N = 102 and 145). A secondary factor analysis yielded two factors, which were labelled: repression and anxious defensiveness. The relevance of this finding for future studies is that only scales belonging to the repression cluster are valid measures for measuring repression. The Marlowe Crowne Social Desirability scale is recommended as the most adequate repression measure.