Document Type : Review Article
Authors
1
Department of Pedagogy and Psychology, Urgench State University, Urgench, Uzbekistan.
2
Department of Clinical Subjects, Mamun University, Khiva, Uzbekistan.
3
Department of Medicine, Urgench Mamun University, Urgench, Uzbekistan.
4
Department of Clinical Subjects, Tashkent State Medical University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
5
Department of Psychological Sciences, Mamun University, Khiva, Uzbekistan.
6
Department of Psychology, Mamun University, Khiva, Uzbekistan.
Abstract
Background: Emotional suppression, defined as the deliberate restraint of emotional expression, is frequently utilized by people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While it may offer momentary relief, its persistent application is connected to negative long-term psychological and health outcomes. Examining this process through a psychophysiological lens is crucial for understanding the biological mechanisms involved.
Objective: This review consolidates contemporary research on the psychophysiological features and repercussions of chronic emotional suppression in trauma-exposed groups, with particular attention to autonomic nervous system, neuroendocrine, and central nervous system activity.
Methods: A narrative synthesis of literature published between 2000 and 2025 was performed, sourcing articles from PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Key search terms encompassed "emotional suppression," "trauma," "PTSD," "psychophysiology," and related physiological metrics.
Results: Robust evidence demonstrates that emotional suppression in trauma patients correlates with heightened and rigid sympathetic arousal (e.g., reduced heart rate variability), dysregulated HPA axis function, and a neural pattern of excessive prefrontal effort paired with sustained limbic reactivity. These physiological markers are associated with increased PTSD symptom severity and contribute to greater allostatic load and physical health comorbidities.
Conclusion: Emotional suppression constitutes a biologically costly form of regulation that intensifies physiological stress responses and may perpetuate trauma-related pathology. Clinical interventions should prioritize helping patients replace suppression with more adaptive, antecedent-focused emotion regulation strategies to foster comprehensive resilience.
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