THE METHI CHURI PARADOX: MEDIATING ROLE OF COGNATIVE REAPRAISAL BETWEEN EMOTIONAL SUPPRESSION AND COVERT NARCISSISM IN PAKISTANI MOTHERS-IN-LAWS

Abstract

Suppressing one’s emotions is typical in a society like Pakistan in which families tend to prioritize group harmony. The present paper investigates the association between emotional suppression and covert narcissism in Pakistani mothers-in-law who have important family roles and also are emotionally suppressed. From a psychological and sociocultural standpoint, the study aims to understand how emotional suppression operates to overly sensitive, manipulative, and passive- aggressive covert narcissistic traits. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational design, data were collected from 128 Pakistani mothers-in-law through the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) and Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Using Pearson's correlation, emotional suppression and covert narcissism were significantly positively correlated, which means, those who suppress their emotions tend to develop covert narcissistic traits. The correlation was looked into regarding the possible mediation. The findings suggested cognitive reappraisal did not have a significant mediating effect. Nonetheless, emotional suppression affected specifically the covert narcissism related to the cultural norms that govern emotional expression. These results point out the importance of addressing emotion regulation issues such as suppression and its mental health consequences in a culturally appropriate manner. Relational conflicts in the context of an authoritarian family may be alleviated by techniques of assertiveness and emotion-focused interventions. More mediators like social support and family discord need to be studied to further enhance the understanding of these relationships. This study examines an understudied relationship between emotion regulation, personality, and mental health in countries with collectivist cultures.