The Hidden Cost of Emotion Regulation Difficulties: Exploring the Correlation between Self-Silencing and Somatization in Women

Women suppress thoughts and emotions to sustain their close relationships. Self-silencing may lead women to refrain from expressing their feelings. This situation might negatively influence emotion regulation. Suppressed emotions can manifest as physical problems in women. This study examined the mediating effect of emotion regulation difficulties in the correlation between self-silencing and somatization in women. The sample consisted of 300 women aged 18 to 65 years old. The participants completed the “Personal Information Form,” “Self-Silencing Scale,” “Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale,” and “Bradford Somatic Inventory.” The data were analyzed through Pearson correlation analysis and mediation analysis. The study participants reported below-average levels of self-silencing and emotion regulation difficulties and moderate levels of somatization. A moderately positive correlation was found between self-silencing and emotion regulation difficulties, as well as somatization and emotion regulation difficulties. A weakly positive correlation was determined between self-silencing and somatization. Emotion regulation difficulties fully mediated the correlation between self-silencing and somatization. These results highlight the holistic connection between self-silencing, emotion regulation difficulties, and somatization. In this context, it is recommended that mental health professionals develop psychosocial interventions aimed at reducing self-silencing, difficulties with emotion regulation, and somatization in improving women’s psychosocial well-being.