Individual differences in preference for thought suppression: components and correlates of the White Bear Suppression Inventory

This study examines the psychometric properties of the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI, Wegner & Zanakos, 1994) in a sample of Italian undergraduate students. The WBSI was designed as a self-report measure of people's chronic tendency to suppress thoughts. Consistent with Blumberg's (2000) analysis, in the present sample factor analysis of the scale revealed three correlated factors: unwanted intrusive thoughts, thought suppression, and self-distraction (to avoid thoughts). Individual differences needed for cognitive closure (NfCC) and regulatory mode orientations (locomotion and assessment) were found to be diversely correlated with the three factors of the WBSI scale. Specifically, NfCC was positively correlated with thought suppression, assessment was positively correlated with unwanted intrusive thoughts, and locomotion was positively correlated with self-distraction as a cognitive avoidance strategy. The theoretical meaning of these findings is considered.