Impact of Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination and Entrapment on the Mental Health of Female Emerging Adults

preprint OA: closed CC-BY-4.0
📄 Open PDF Full text JSON View at publisher
AI-generated summary by claude@2026-07, 2026-07-14

This study found that perceived familial gender discrimination is positively associated with feelings of entrapment among female emerging adults in India, with discrimination significantly predicting entrapment.

One-sentence paraphrase of the abstract; not a substitute for reading it. No clinical advice. How this works

AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-07, 2026-07-14 · read from full text

This preprint examined the relationship between perceived familial gender discrimination (PFGD) and perceived entrapment (PE) among 568 unmarried, unemployed female college students (age 18+) in India, using purposive sampling and measures including the Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Status Scale, a parental gender discrimination subscale, and an entrapment short form scale. The study found a strong significant positive correlation between PFGD and PE (r = .653, p < .01), and regression analysis showed that PFGD significantly predicted PE, explaining 42.6% of its variance. A major limitation noted implicitly by the design is that the cross-sectional, preprint (not peer-reviewed) nature and the narrow inclusion/exclusion criteria restrict causal inference and generalizability. Relevance to endometriosis: it does not explicitly discuss endometriosis or adenomyosis; it was included in the corpus via a keyword match in the upstream search index.

Read from the paper's body, not the abstract. Not a substitute for reading the paper. No clinical advice. How this works

Abstract

Abstract This study investigates the impact of perceived familial gender discrimination (PFGD) and perception of entrapment (PE) on the mental health of female emerging adults in India. The sample comprised 568 unmarried and unemployed female college students aged 18 and above, selected using purposive sampling. The research utilized the Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Status Scale, Gender Discrimination by Parents’ Behaviours subscale, and Entrapment Short Form Scale to measure the variables. The results indicate a significant positive relationship between PFGD and PE (r = .653, p < .01), suggesting that higher levels of perceived discrimination are associated with increased feelings of entrapment. The regression analysis revealed that PFGD significantly predicts PE, accounting for 42.6% of the variance (F(1418) = 419.855, p < .05). This finding highlights the profound impact of familial gender discrimination on the psychological well-being of young women, leading to a heightened sense of entrapment. The study underscores the importance of addressing gender discrimination within families to improve the mental health outcomes of female emerging adults. Future research should explore the intersectionality of gender discrimination with other forms of discrimination and examine its long-term effects on mental health across diverse demographic groups.
Full text 89,233 characters · extracted from preprint-html · click to expand
Impact of Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination and Entrapment on the Mental Health of Female Emerging Adults | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Impact of Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination and Entrapment on the Mental Health of Female Emerging Adults Kanwal Shergill, Dr. Himangini Rathore Hooja This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5022713/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study investigates the impact of perceived familial gender discrimination (PFGD) and perception of entrapment (PE) on the mental health of female emerging adults in India. The sample comprised 568 unmarried and unemployed female college students aged 18 and above, selected using purposive sampling. The research utilized the Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Status Scale, Gender Discrimination by Parents’ Behaviours subscale, and Entrapment Short Form Scale to measure the variables. The results indicate a significant positive relationship between PFGD and PE (r = .653, p < .01), suggesting that higher levels of perceived discrimination are associated with increased feelings of entrapment. The regression analysis revealed that PFGD significantly predicts PE, accounting for 42.6% of the variance (F(1418) = 419.855, p < .05). This finding highlights the profound impact of familial gender discrimination on the psychological well-being of young women, leading to a heightened sense of entrapment. The study underscores the importance of addressing gender discrimination within families to improve the mental health outcomes of female emerging adults. Future research should explore the intersectionality of gender discrimination with other forms of discrimination and examine its long-term effects on mental health across diverse demographic groups. Psychology Gender Studies Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination Perception of Entrapment Mental Health Indian Female Emerging Adults 1. Introduction 1.1. Exploring Gender Inequality Through Indian Dynasties and Familial Discrimination Understanding the status and condition of women across various Indian dynasties reveals the perpetuation of gender inequality and inequity in Indian society. Historical insights from the early and later Vedic periods, the Mauryan dynasty, North Indian dynasties like the Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, and Mughals, and South Indian dynasties like the Cholas, Pandyas, Pallavas, and Chalukyas, as well as the great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, and religions like Buddhism and Jainism, highlight the complexities of women's roles and statuses. Through these insights, two consistent findings emerge: the status and condition of women vary significantly across periods and dynasties, with some areas providing liberty while others limit autonomy. Despite claims of respect, women are often deemed ‘inferior’ or ‘subordinate’ to men. 1.2. Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination Gender discrimination, a pervasive social issue, often infiltrates the family, impacting female children in developing societies. Perceived familial gender discrimination refers to a female child's perception of being discriminated against solely due to gender, manifesting in feelings of marginalization within the household. Rooted in societal attitudes and patriarchal norms, this discrimination is evident in several areas: Mobility Restrictions : Female children face curtailment of mobility for "safety," while male counterparts move freely. Educational and Career Choices : Parents may limit daughters' educational and career opportunities, preferring nearby institutions or jobs. Social Outings : Female children may be prohibited from participating in trips, unlike their male siblings. Gendered Household Chores : Female children are often burdened with domestic responsibilities, affecting their studies. Appearance Scrutiny : Girls face body shaming and criticism of clothing choices, perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards. Financial Disparities : Female children may receive less pocket money, leading to financial dependence. Early Marriage Pressure : Parents may prioritize early marriage for daughters, neglecting their educational or professional aspirations. Verbal and Emotional Abuse : Female children may endure harsh scolding and verbal abuse for minor mistakes. Subordination Conditioning : Girls may be conditioned to accept submissive roles, driven by cultural expectations. Educational Disparities : Female children may not receive the same academic support as their male siblings. 1.1. Perception of Entrapment The concepts of entrapment and defeat theory were developed to address limitations in Seligman and Maier's learned helplessness theory. In 1967, Seligman and Maier observed that dogs exposed to inescapable electric shocks would not attempt to escape even when given the opportunity later. They interpreted this as learned helplessness, where uncontrollable stress deactivated the dogs' motivation to escape. However, some dogs did not exhibit this deactivation, raising questions about the learned helplessness theory's comprehensiveness. When applied to humans, learned helplessness theory suggests that perceived lack of control over adverse situations suppresses individuals' motivation to overcome them. Those experiencing learned helplessness believe negative events are inevitable and beyond their control (Gazzaniga and Heatherton, 2003 ). Prolonged exposure to such conditions leads to diminished initiative and a struggle to address problems, even when solutions exist (Mohanty, Pradhan, Jena, 2015 ). This theory explains issues in academic, work, and sports performance and why some individuals remain in abusive relationships despite ongoing trauma. Entrapment, a psychological phenomenon characterized by the perception of blocked escape routes, leads to a strong desire to flee. Rooted in ethological studies on animals, entrapment occurs when fight or flight strategies fail, causing feelings of defeat and powerlessness. In clinical situations involving suicidality, PTSD, or depressive disorders, entrapment is often assessed alongside defeat. Gilbert and Alan (1998) define defeat as perceiving a loss in social status, competition, or personal achievement. While conceptually distinct, defeat and entrapment are highly associated with each other (Forkmann et al., 2018 ; Oakley-Frost et al., 2022 ). Entrapment relates closely to the social rank theory, which links loss of social status to increased depression risk. Gilbert and Allan ( 1998 ) argue that entrapment significantly explains depression beyond other social rank factors. This theory suggests depressive symptoms serve an adaptive purpose, reducing efforts towards unattainable goals and managing lost or threatened attachment bonds (Gilbert, 2001 ; Nesse, 2000 ). Depression, characterized by feelings of inferiority and submissiveness, reflects an adaptive response to social challenges (Price et al., 2007 ). Persistent and prolonged stress without coping mechanisms, learned helplessness, lack of social support, and negative reinforcement are some of the most common factors that contribute to perception of entrapment. Entrapment, linked to depression, anxiety, suicidal behavior, and PTSD, involves complex interactions of psychological, social, and cognitive factors. Recognizing and addressing these components is crucial for understanding and mitigating the impacts of entrapment on mental health. 1.1.1. Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model (IMV) of Suicidal Behavior The IMV model describes how biopsychosocial environments influence suicidal behavior in three stages: Premotivational Phase : Personal factors and stressors generate adverse reactions (O’Connor and Nock, 2014; Platt, 2016 ). Motivational Phase : Factors like defeat, humiliation, and entrapment lead to suicidal ideation, especially with maladaptive coping mechanisms (Gilbert and Allan, 1998 ; Chu et al., 2018 ). Volitional Phase : Suicidal ideation transitions to action, influenced by methods, attitudes, and personal history (O’Connor and Kirtley, 2018). 1.1.2. Types of Entrapment Internal Entrapment : Arises from one’s distressing thoughts and feelings. External Entrapment : Stemming from adverse external factors like abusive relationships or financial difficulties. 2. Objectives To study the relationship between perceived familial gender discrimination and perception of entrapment To explore the direct effect of perceived familial gender discrimination on perception of entrapment. 3. Hypotheses H1: There will be a significant relationship between Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination and Perception of Entrapment H2: Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination will significantly predict Perception of Entrapment 4. Methods 4.1. Sample: The sample of the study consisted of 568 female college- or University-going students aged 18 years and above. Purposive sampling was used. The sample was selected with the following criteria of inclusion and exclusion: Criteria of Inclusion : Participants who are unmarried and unemployed, Participants who are enrolled in a full-time course, Participants who have male sibling living with them. Participants belonging to middle class (both upper and lower middle) socioeconomic status. Criteria of Exclusion : Participants having any kind of psychological history Participants belonging to LGBTQ + community Participants belonging to or identifying themselves as 3rd gender Participants pursuing a course from any University through correspondence or distance mode Participants pursuing part-time jobs or internship component of their course/programme. 4.2. Tools: Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Status Scale (2021) : Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Status Scale is a reliable tool to measure socioeconomic status in urban areas. It was first developed in 1976, and has undergone several modifications due to changes in Consumer Price Index – Industry Workers (CPI-IW) and fluctuations in the value of Indian Rupee. Kuppuswamy SES Scale has 3 parameters, and each parameter is further classified into subgroups, which have been assigned scores. The 3 parameters are: occupation of the head of the family (10 subgroups, each scored from 1 to 10), education of the head of the family (7 subgroups, each scored from 1 to 7), and monthly family income (7 subgroups, each scored from 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, and 12). The total score ranges from 3 to 29, which classifies families into 5 groups: upper class, upper middle class, lower middle class, upper lower and lower socio-economic class. Gender Discrimination by Parents’ Behaviours subscale in Gender Discrimination Inventory (Kira, Hanna, and Bujold-Bugeaud, 2015) : Gender Discrimination by Parents’ Behaviours (GD-Pb) is a subscale of the Gender Discrimination Inventory (GDI) contains a total of 33 items spread over two major scales: Gender Discrimination scales and Gender Discrimination Coping scales., which has 6 items with 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree, 5 = Strongly Agree). GD-Pb subscale has Cronbach alpha value of 0.78 (p > 0.05), and test-retest reliability coefficient of 0.76 (p > 0.05). Gender Discrimination Inventory has a good overall construct validity, and GD-Pb subscale has a good fit (χ2 = 5.465, p > 0.05; comparative fit index = 1.000, p > 0.05). Entrapment Short Form Scale (E-SF; de Beurs et. al, 2020 ): A scale with 4 items, E-SF uses a 5-point Likert scale (0 = Not at all like me, 4 = Extremely like me). The four items were selected from Gilbert and Allan’s ( 1998 ) Entrapment Scale on the basis of highest factor loading and item response theory scores. E-SF was developed with both clinical and non-clinical subjects as samples. The Cronbach alpha value of E-SF is 0.87. It has a robust validity, as it strongly correlated with the full-versioned Entrapment Scale within clinical sample (r = 0.94) and population-based sample (r = 0.97). 4.3. Statistical Analysis IBM-SPSS® version 22 was used to do the following data analysis: Descriptive Statistics Correlation Multiple Regression Analysis 4.4. Procedure The questionnaire was administered through online mode, and it was created using the Google Forms platform. The subjects belonged to the author’s university, so the author approached the Department Heads of all subjects to know the strength of students in each undergraduate and postgraduate batch. The author also collected time tables of each batch in order to meet and interact with the students so that those eligible for the study were screened. The author went to each batch at an appropriate time suggested by the Department Head, and briefly explained the nature of her work. Students were asked questions on the basis of the inclusion criteria such as marital status, employment status, and having male siblings. Only those matching the inclusion criteria raised their hands. The students were assured of their confidentiality and provision of assistance in case of any doubt or confusion by the author during the classroom interactive session. Then the eligible students gave their names and contact numbers to the author in order to receive the questionnaire through a Google Forms link. After the data was collected and then scored, statistical analysis was conducted. 5. Results and Discussion Table 1 Descriptive Statistics of the Study Variables Mean Std. Deviation Skewness Kurtosis Statistic Statistic Statistic Std. Error Statistic Std. Error PFGD 16.42 5.955 − .147 .103 − .945 .205 PE 7.18 4.467 − .117 .103 -1.085 .205 The sample, as per mean scores given in Table 1 , has obtained moderate scores in both the scales to measure PFGD and PE. The distribution of data follows all criteria to be considered for normal with homogeneity of variance. It is neither skewed nor is there any kurtosis. Table 2 Correlations among the Study Variables PFGD PE PFGD 1 .653 ** PE .653 ** 1 **correlation significant at .01 As it can be interpreted and understood from Table 2 , perceived familial gender discrimination has a significantly positive relationship with perception of entrapment ( r = .653, p < .01). This means that the more a female experiences being discriminated against by her family members due to her gender, the more she is likely to feel herself being entrapped in her home and circumstances. This proves Hypothesis 1, which states that there will be a significant relationship between perceived familial gender discrimination and perception of entrapment Parra and associates’ ( 2021 ) study on sexual minority women can be considered to understand the findings. The research explored the relationships between homophobic violence, family belongingness, entrapment and suicidal ideation among subjects. It was found that family belongingness and entrapment share an inverse relationship ( r = − .346, p < .01), which further reduces suicidal ideation, indicated by the moderated mediation analysis results (b = .211, SE = .081, 95% BCa CI = [− .055, .372]). When people feel a strong sense of belongingness with their family, it appears to reduce the likelihood of suicidal thoughts, even when they feel themselves trapped in difficult situations. That is, feeling connected and supported by family can not only protect against suicidal thoughts but also lessen their impact when individuals feel a sense of entrapment Elias, Alnabilsy, and Pagorek-Eshel ( 2019 ) studied Arab minority women in Israel, revealing the impact of violent, gender-biased family practices and the lack of empathy from caregivers and social workers, leading to trauma and mental health issues. Participants reported that their parents prevented them from seeking help, fearing confidentiality breaches and violent consequences. Similarly, Gilbert, Gilbert, and Sanghera ( 2004 ) found that South Asian women in the UK face rigid cultural norms and power dynamics, causing distress and high rates of suicide among married women. Fear of confidentiality breaches and family control prevents open discussions about their distress. Women are pressured to uphold family honor, trapping them in abusive households and harming their mental health. Both the aforementioned studies highlight patriarchal structures in Middle Eastern and South-East Asian communities that subordinate women. In these cultures, parents hold a high status, and children are expected to obey them. Women who recognize the injustice of these norms often struggle between family loyalty and self-worth. They fear appearing disrespectful, losing family support, and facing ostracism, leaving them feeling trapped and unable to improve their lives. Table 3 (a) : Regression Analysis predicting Perception of Entrapment (PE) from Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination (PFGD) Model Summary Model R R Square Adjusted R Square Std. Error of the Estimate 1 .653 a .426 .425 3.38802 a. Predictors: (Constant), PFGD Table 3 (b) : ANOVA coefficients predicting Perception of Entrapment (PE) from Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination (PFGD) ANOVA a Model Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig. 1 Regression 4819.386 1 4819.386 419.855 .000 b Residual 6496.936 566 11.479 Total 11316.322 567 a. Dependent Variable: PE b. Predictors: (Constant), PFGD Table 3 (c) : Regression Coefficients predicting Perception of Entrapment (PE) from Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination (PFGD) Coefficients a Model Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients t Sig. B Std. Error Beta 1 (Constant) − .856 .417 -2.052 .041 PFGD .490 .024 .653 20.490 .000 a. Dependent Variable: PE As observed from Tables 3 (a), (b) and (c), the linear regression analysis predicting perception of entrapment by perceived familial gender discrimination revealed a statistically significant model (F (1,418) = 419.855, p < .05), with an adjusted R² of .425. This finding suggests that perceived familial gender discrimination accounts for approximately 42.6% of the variance in perception of entrapment among the subjects. This indicates a large effect of perceived familial gender discrimination on perception of entrapment. The more perceived familial gender discrimination increases, the more entrapment would be reported by females. That is, individuals who perceive themselves to be discriminated against by their family more frequently is more likely to report being entrapped. This finding gives an important statistical evidence that gender discriminant behaviours in familial contexts causes a female child to perceive herself as entrapped in her household quite intensely. This finding also confirms similar findings by the likes of Elias, Alnabilsy and Pagorek-Eshel ( 2019 ) and Gilbert, Gilbert and Sanghera ( 2004 ). Learned helplessness, given by Seligman ( 1967 ) and a concept that gave rise to the concept of entrapment, is a psychological condition where individuals feel unable to change their circumstances due to repeated exposure to uncontrollable and adverse situations. Individuals facing a state of learned helplessness often report lacking control over outcomes and the inability to learn things that can turn circumstances in their favour, a sense of powerlessness, passive behavior, lacking motivation to change or improve their conditions, lowered self-esteem and higher levels of reported anxiety and depressive symptoms. Instances of heavy emphasis on traditional lifestyle by family members, lack of familial support and encouragement, and negative feedback and criticism may result in females thinking that they cannot do something about their circumstances, and feel demotivated to put efforts into their life’s betterment, as they blame themselves for failures and perceive success and achievement as impossible and avoid grabbing any opportunity that may enhance their lives. Thus, all this puts a female in a state of entrapment in their misogynistic, patriarchal households. Social comparison theory, proposed by Leon Festinger in 1954, states that individuals determine their own social and personal worth based on how they stand in front of others. People compare themselves to others as a way of developing self-evaluation, self-enhancement, and understanding social reality. This theory is crucial in explaining how individuals perceive their circumstances and react to social information. In this study, the significantly strong direct relationship between perceived familial gender discrimination (PFGD) and the perception of entrapment can be elucidated through social comparison theory. Female students may compare themselves to their male siblings, noticing disparities in treatment, expectations, and opportunities. These intra-family comparisons highlight the gender biases and amplify feelings of being trapped in a discriminatory environment. These students might also compare their family experiences with those of their peers. Observing that others do not face the same level of discrimination can exacerbate their sense of entrapment. Persistent familial gender discrimination can lead to negative self-evaluation. When female students perceive themselves as unfairly treated compared to their male counterparts, it impacts their self-esteem and self-worth, leading to a feeling of entrapment. Through repeated comparisons, students might internalize these discriminatory attitudes, affecting their overall mental health and perception of personal freedom. The constant comparison and realization of being discriminated against can lead to heightened stress and anxiety. This psychological strain reinforces the perception of being entrapped in an unfair system. Feeling stuck in a system that devalues them solely based on gender can create a powerful sense of entrapment. The socioeconomic status of these students - upper and lower middle class - may also influence the intensity of these comparisons. In more affluent settings, where education and awareness levels are higher, the contrast between expected equality and experienced discrimination might be more pronounced, thereby intensifying the perception of entrapment. 6. Conclusion Perceived familial gender discrimination has a strong and significant relationship with perception of entrapment among female college students. With 42.6% variance in perception of entrapment accounted by perceived familial gender discrimination, it has also been proven that perceived familial gender discrimination has a significant direct effect on perception of entrapment. 7. Implications This study highlights the importance of raising awareness about the detrimental effects of familial gender discrimination. Community-based programs can educate families about gender equality and the long-term negative impacts of discrimination on young women's psychological well-being. Establishing support groups and mentorship programs for young women can provide them with a platform to share their experiences and receive guidance. Mentorship from women who have successfully navigated similar challenges can be particularly empowering. Engaging fathers and brothers in discussions about gender equality can help address the root causes of familial gender discrimination. Programs that involve male family members in promoting gender equality can lead to more supportive home environments for young women. Incorporating gender studies and discussions on gender equality into the educational curriculum can sensitize students to issues of gender discrimination from an early age, fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment within educational institutions. Providing training for educators on recognizing and addressing signs of gender discrimination can enable them to better support affected students. Educators can play a crucial role in identifying students who may be experiencing familial gender discrimination and directing them to appropriate resources. Enhancing the availability and accessibility of counselling services within educational institutions can help students cope with the psychological impacts of gender discrimination. Counsellors should be trained to address issues related to gender discrimination and self-efficacy. Healthcare providers, especially those working in the mental health field, should screen for signs of familial gender discrimination when assessing young women. Early identification and intervention can prevent the escalation of psychological issues such as depression and suicidal ideation. Implementing integrated care models that combine mental health services with educational and social support can provide comprehensive care for young women facing gender discrimination. This holistic approach can address both the psychological and social aspects of their experiences. Strengthening legal frameworks and policies to protect young women from gender discrimination is essential. This includes laws that explicitly address gender discrimination within families and ensure that young women have access to legal recourse and support services. Future research should explore the impact of perceived familial gender discrimination on different demographic groups, including women from various socioeconomic statuses, cultural backgrounds, and geographic regions. This can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the issue. Conducting longitudinal studies can help establish causal relationships and track the long-term effects of familial gender discrimination on psychological outcomes. This can inform more effective interventions and policies. Investigating the intersection of gender discrimination with other forms of discrimination (e.g., based on race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation) can provide insights into the compounded effects on young women's well-being. This intersectional approach can lead to more inclusive and effective solutions. References Chu C, Walker KL, Stanley IH, Hirsch JK, Greenberg JH, Rudd MD, Joiner TE (2018) Perceived problem-solving deficits and suicidal ideation: Evidence for the explanatory roles of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness in five samples. J Personal Soc Psychol 115(1):137 de Beurs D, Cleare S, Wetherall K, Eschle-Byrne S, Ferguson E, O’Connor B, D., O’Connor C, R (2020) Entrapment and Suicide Risk: The Development of the 4-item Entrapment Scale Short-Form (E-SF). Psychiatry Res 284:112765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112765 Elias H, Alnabilsy R, Pagorek-Eshel S (2019) Barriers to Receiving Support among Young Arab Women in Israel Who Have Been Abused in Childhood. Br J Social Work 49(8):2073–2091. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcz007 Festinger L (1954) A Theory of Social Comparison Processes. Hum Relat 7(2):117–140. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872675400700202 Forkmann T, Teismann T, Stenzel JS, Glaesmer H, de Beurs D (2018) Defeat and Entrapment: More than meets the eye? Applying Network Analysis to Estimate Dimensions of Highly Correlated Constructs. BMC Med Res Methodol 18(1):1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-018-0470-5 Gazzaniga MS, Heatherton TF (2003) Psychological Science: Mind, Brain, and Behavior, 1st edn. WW Norton and Company, New York Gilbert P, Gilbert J, Sanghera J (2004) A focus group exploration of the impact of izzat, shame, subordination and entrapment on mental health and service use in South Asian women living in Derby. Mental Health Relig Cult 7(2):109–130 Gilbert P (2001) Depression and Stress: A Biopsychosocial Exploration of Evolved Functions and Mechanisms. Stress 4(2):121–135 Gilbert P, Allan S (1998) The role of defeat and entrapment (arrested flight) in depression: An exploration of an evolutionary view. Psychol Med 28(3):585–598. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291798006710 Kira IA, Hanaa S, Bujold-Bugeaud M (2015) Gender Discrimination (GD): A Conceptual Trauma-based Framework for GD and the Development of Gender Discrimination Inventory. Psychology 6:2041–2070. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/psych.2015.616201 Mohanty A, Pradhan RK, Jena LK (2015) Learned Helplessness and Socialization: A Reflective Analysis. Psychology 6(7):885–895 Nesse RM (2000) Is depression an adaptation? Arch Gen Psychiatry 57:14–20 Oakley-Frost DN, Harris JA, May AM, Bryan AO, Tucker RP, Bryan CJ (2022) Internal entrapment and fearlessness about death as precipitants of suicidal thoughts and planning in the context of post-traumatic stress disorder. Suicide Life-Threat Behav 52(1):147–158. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12815 O'Connor RC, Kirtley OJ (2018) The Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model of Suicidal Behaviour. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 373(1754):20170268. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2017.0268 O'Connor RC, Nock MK (2014) The Psychology of Suicidal Behaviour. Lancet Psychiatry 1(1):73–85 Parra LA, van Bergen DD, Dumon E, Kretschmer T, La Roi C, Portzky G, Frost DM (2021) Family Belongingness attenuates Entrapment and buffers its association with Suicidal Ideation in a sample of Dutch sexual minority emerging adults. Arch Sex Behav 50(3):983–1001. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01838-0 Platt S (2016) Inequalities and Suicidal Behavior. In: O'Connor RC, Pirkis J (eds) International handbook of suicide prevention, 2nd edn. Wiley, Chichester, UK, pp 211–234 Price JS, Gardner R Jr., Wilson DR, Sloman L, Rohde P, Erickson M (2007) Territory, Rank and Mental Health: The History of An Idea. Evolutionary Psychol 5:531–554 Seligman MEP, Maier SF (1967) Failure to escape traumatic shock. J Exp Psychol 74:1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0024514 Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5022713","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":348775156,"identity":"975c2ad7-851f-44fe-ba59-4af134ea0afb","order_by":0,"name":"Kanwal Shergill","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4395-4493","institution":"The IIS University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kanwal","middleName":"","lastName":"Shergill","suffix":""},{"id":348775157,"identity":"bd4e2654-4463-4b4a-86fa-0b831f12d6f5","order_by":1,"name":"Dr. Himangini Rathore Hooja","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The IIS University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"Dr.","firstName":"Himangini","middleName":"Rathore","lastName":"Hooja","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-09-03 07:20:41","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"coiExplicitlySet":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5022713/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5022713/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":64064164,"identity":"4b80ba09-2177-4852-a604-78de1563e7b1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-09-06 03:20:45","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":572761,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5022713/v1/99acad21-c9e8-45f4-b704-3fdc0c640df8.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImpact of Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination and Entrapment on the Mental Health of Female Emerging Adults\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec2\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e1.1. Exploring Gender Inequality Through Indian Dynasties and Familial Discrimination\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnderstanding the status and condition of women across various Indian dynasties reveals the perpetuation of gender inequality and inequity in Indian society. Historical insights from the early and later Vedic periods, the Mauryan dynasty, North Indian dynasties like the Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, and Mughals, and South Indian dynasties like the Cholas, Pandyas, Pallavas, and Chalukyas, as well as the great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, and religions like Buddhism and Jainism, highlight the complexities of women's roles and statuses. Through these insights, two consistent findings emerge: the status and condition of women vary significantly across periods and dynasties, with some areas providing liberty while others limit autonomy. Despite claims of respect, women are often deemed \u0026lsquo;inferior\u0026rsquo; or \u0026lsquo;subordinate\u0026rsquo; to men.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e1.2. Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGender discrimination, a pervasive social issue, often infiltrates the family, impacting female children in developing societies. Perceived familial gender discrimination refers to a female child's perception of being discriminated against solely due to gender, manifesting in feelings of marginalization within the household. Rooted in societal attitudes and patriarchal norms, this discrimination is evident in several areas:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMobility Restrictions\u003c/em\u003e: Female children face curtailment of mobility for \"safety,\" while male counterparts move freely.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEducational and Career Choices\u003c/em\u003e: Parents may limit daughters' educational and career opportunities, preferring nearby institutions or jobs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSocial Outings\u003c/em\u003e: Female children may be prohibited from participating in trips, unlike their male siblings.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eGendered Household Chores\u003c/em\u003e: Female children are often burdened with domestic responsibilities, affecting their studies.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAppearance Scrutiny\u003c/em\u003e: Girls face body shaming and criticism of clothing choices, perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFinancial Disparities\u003c/em\u003e: Female children may receive less pocket money, leading to financial dependence.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEarly Marriage Pressure\u003c/em\u003e: Parents may prioritize early marriage for daughters, neglecting their educational or professional aspirations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eVerbal and Emotional Abuse\u003c/em\u003e: Female children may endure harsh scolding and verbal abuse for minor mistakes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSubordination Conditioning\u003c/em\u003e: Girls may be conditioned to accept submissive roles, driven by cultural expectations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEducational Disparities\u003c/em\u003e: Female children may not receive the same academic support as their male siblings.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e1.1. Perception of Entrapment\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe concepts of entrapment and defeat theory were developed to address limitations in Seligman and Maier's learned helplessness theory. In 1967, Seligman and Maier observed that dogs exposed to inescapable electric shocks would not attempt to escape even when given the opportunity later. They interpreted this as learned helplessness, where uncontrollable stress deactivated the dogs' motivation to escape. However, some dogs did not exhibit this deactivation, raising questions about the learned helplessness theory's comprehensiveness.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen applied to humans, learned helplessness theory suggests that perceived lack of control over adverse situations suppresses individuals' motivation to overcome them. Those experiencing learned helplessness believe negative events are inevitable and beyond their control (Gazzaniga and Heatherton, \u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2003\u003c/span\u003e). Prolonged exposure to such conditions leads to diminished initiative and a struggle to address problems, even when solutions exist (Mohanty, Pradhan, Jena, \u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). This theory explains issues in academic, work, and sports performance and why some individuals remain in abusive relationships despite ongoing trauma.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEntrapment, a psychological phenomenon characterized by the perception of blocked escape routes, leads to a strong desire to flee. Rooted in ethological studies on animals, entrapment occurs when fight or flight strategies fail, causing feelings of defeat and powerlessness. In clinical situations involving suicidality, PTSD, or depressive disorders, entrapment is often assessed alongside defeat. Gilbert and Alan (1998) define defeat as perceiving a loss in social status, competition, or personal achievement. While conceptually distinct, defeat and entrapment are highly associated with each other (Forkmann et al., \u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; Oakley-Frost et al., \u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEntrapment relates closely to the social rank theory, which links loss of social status to increased depression risk. Gilbert and Allan (\u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1998\u003c/span\u003e) argue that entrapment significantly explains depression beyond other social rank factors. This theory suggests depressive symptoms serve an adaptive purpose, reducing efforts towards unattainable goals and managing lost or threatened attachment bonds (Gilbert, \u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2001\u003c/span\u003e; Nesse, \u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2000\u003c/span\u003e). Depression, characterized by feelings of inferiority and submissiveness, reflects an adaptive response to social challenges (Price et al., \u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePersistent and prolonged stress without coping mechanisms, learned helplessness, lack of social support, and negative reinforcement are some of the most common factors that contribute to perception of entrapment. Entrapment, linked to depression, anxiety, suicidal behavior, and PTSD, involves complex interactions of psychological, social, and cognitive factors. Recognizing and addressing these components is crucial for understanding and mitigating the impacts of entrapment on mental health.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e1.1.1. Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model (IMV) of Suicidal Behavior\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe IMV model describes how biopsychosocial environments influence suicidal behavior in three stages:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePremotivational Phase\u003c/em\u003e: Personal factors and stressors generate adverse reactions (O\u0026rsquo;Connor and Nock, 2014; Platt, \u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMotivational Phase\u003c/em\u003e: Factors like defeat, humiliation, and entrapment lead to suicidal ideation, especially with maladaptive coping mechanisms (Gilbert and Allan, \u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1998\u003c/span\u003e; Chu et al., \u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eVolitional Phase\u003c/em\u003e: Suicidal ideation transitions to action, influenced by methods, attitudes, and personal history (O\u0026rsquo;Connor and Kirtley, 2018).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e1.1.2. Types of Entrapment\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eInternal Entrapment\u003c/em\u003e: Arises from one\u0026rsquo;s distressing thoughts and feelings.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eExternal Entrapment\u003c/em\u003e: Stemming from adverse external factors like abusive relationships or financial difficulties.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":" 2. Objectives","content":"\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eTo study the relationship between perceived familial gender discrimination and perception of entrapment\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eTo explore the direct effect of perceived familial gender discrimination on perception of entrapment.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e"},{"header":"3. Hypotheses","content":"\u003cp\u003eH1: There will be a significant relationship between Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination and Perception of Entrapment\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eH2: Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination will significantly predict Perception of Entrapment\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"4. Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.1. Sample:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe sample of the study consisted of 568 female college- or University-going students aged 18 years and above. Purposive sampling was used. The sample was selected with the following criteria of inclusion and exclusion:\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eCriteria of Inclusion\u003c/b\u003e:\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants who are unmarried and unemployed,\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants who are enrolled in a full-time course,\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants who have male sibling living with them.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants belonging to middle class (both upper and lower middle) socioeconomic status.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eCriteria of Exclusion\u003c/b\u003e:\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants having any kind of psychological history\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants belonging to LGBTQ\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;community\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants belonging to or identifying themselves as 3rd gender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants pursuing a course from any University through correspondence or distance mode\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants pursuing part-time jobs or internship component of their course/programme.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/ul\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.2. Tools:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eKuppuswamy Socioeconomic Status Scale (2021)\u003c/b\u003e:\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/ul\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eKuppuswamy Socioeconomic Status Scale is a reliable tool to measure socioeconomic status in urban areas. It was first developed in 1976, and has undergone several modifications due to changes in Consumer Price Index \u0026ndash; Industry Workers (CPI-IW) and fluctuations in the value of Indian Rupee. Kuppuswamy SES Scale has 3 parameters, and each parameter is further classified into subgroups, which have been assigned scores. The 3 parameters are: occupation of the head of the family (10 subgroups, each scored from 1 to 10), education of the head of the family (7 subgroups, each scored from 1 to 7), and monthly family income (7 subgroups, each scored from 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, and 12). The total score ranges from 3 to 29, which classifies families into 5 groups: upper class, upper middle class, lower middle class, upper lower and lower socio-economic class.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eGender Discrimination by Parents\u0026rsquo; Behaviours subscale in Gender Discrimination Inventory (Kira, Hanna, and Bujold-Bugeaud, 2015)\u003c/b\u003e:\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/ul\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender Discrimination by Parents\u0026rsquo; Behaviours (GD-Pb) is a subscale of the Gender Discrimination Inventory (GDI) contains a total of 33 items spread over two major scales: Gender Discrimination scales and Gender Discrimination Coping scales., which has 6 items with 5-point Likert scale (1\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Strongly Disagree, 5\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Strongly Agree). GD-Pb subscale has Cronbach alpha value of 0.78 (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05), and test-retest reliability coefficient of 0.76 (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Gender Discrimination Inventory has a good overall construct validity, and GD-Pb subscale has a good fit (χ2\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5.465, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05; comparative fit index\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.000, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eEntrapment Short Form Scale (E-SF;\u003c/b\u003e de Beurs et. al, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e):\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/ul\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA scale with 4 items, E-SF uses a 5-point Likert scale (0\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Not at all like me, 4\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Extremely like me). The four items were selected from Gilbert and Allan\u0026rsquo;s (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1998\u003c/span\u003e) Entrapment Scale on the basis of highest factor loading and item response theory scores. E-SF was developed with both clinical and non-clinical subjects as samples. The Cronbach alpha value of E-SF is 0.87. It has a robust validity, as it strongly correlated with the full-versioned Entrapment Scale within clinical sample (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.94) and population-based sample (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.97).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.3. Statistical Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIBM-SPSS\u0026reg; version 22 was used to do the following data analysis:\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eDescriptive Statistics\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eCorrelation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eMultiple Regression Analysis\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/ul\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.4. Procedure\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe questionnaire was administered through online mode, and it was created using the Google Forms platform. The subjects belonged to the author\u0026rsquo;s university, so the author approached the Department Heads of all subjects to know the strength of students in each undergraduate and postgraduate batch. The author also collected time tables of each batch in order to meet and interact with the students so that those eligible for the study were screened. The author went to each batch at an appropriate time suggested by the Department Head, and briefly explained the nature of her work. Students were asked questions on the basis of the inclusion criteria such as marital status, employment status, and having male siblings. Only those matching the inclusion criteria raised their hands. The students were assured of their confidentiality and provision of assistance in case of any doubt or confusion by the author during the classroom interactive session. Then the eligible students gave their names and contact numbers to the author in order to receive the questionnaire through a Google Forms link. After the data was collected and then scored, statistical analysis was conducted.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"5. Results and Discussion","content":"\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"colspec\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ctable id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDescriptive Statistics of the Study Variables\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/caption\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth rowspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMean\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStd. Deviation\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSkewness\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKurtosis\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStatistic\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStatistic\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStatistic\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStd. Error\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStatistic\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStd. Error\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePFGD\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e16.42\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5.955\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;.147\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.103\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;.945\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.205\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePE\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7.18\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4.467\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;.117\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.103\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e-1.085\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.205\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sample, as per mean scores given in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, has obtained moderate scores in both the scales to measure PFGD and PE. The distribution of data follows all criteria to be considered for normal with homogeneity of variance. It is neither skewed nor is there any kurtosis.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"colspec\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ctable id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCorrelations among the Study Variables\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/caption\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePFGD\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePE\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePFGD\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.653\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePE\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.653\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd colspan=\"4\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e**correlation significant at .01\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs it can be interpreted and understood from Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, perceived familial gender discrimination has a significantly positive relationship with perception of entrapment (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.653, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.01). This means that the more a female experiences being discriminated against by her family members due to her gender, the more she is likely to feel herself being entrapped in her home and circumstances. This proves Hypothesis 1, which states that there will be a significant relationship between perceived familial gender discrimination and perception of entrapment\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParra and associates\u0026rsquo; (\u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e) study on sexual minority women can be considered to understand the findings. The research explored the relationships between homophobic violence, family belongingness, entrapment and suicidal ideation among subjects. It was found that family belongingness and entrapment share an inverse relationship (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;.346, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.01), which further reduces suicidal ideation, indicated by the moderated mediation analysis results (b\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.211, SE\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.081, 95% BCa CI = [\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;.055, .372]). When people feel a strong sense of belongingness with their family, it appears to reduce the likelihood of suicidal thoughts, even when they feel themselves trapped in difficult situations. That is, feeling connected and supported by family can not only protect against suicidal thoughts but also lessen their impact when individuals feel a sense of entrapment\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eElias, Alnabilsy, and Pagorek-Eshel (\u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e) studied Arab minority women in Israel, revealing the impact of violent, gender-biased family practices and the lack of empathy from caregivers and social workers, leading to trauma and mental health issues. Participants reported that their parents prevented them from seeking help, fearing confidentiality breaches and violent consequences. Similarly, Gilbert, Gilbert, and Sanghera (\u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e) found that South Asian women in the UK face rigid cultural norms and power dynamics, causing distress and high rates of suicide among married women. Fear of confidentiality breaches and family control prevents open discussions about their distress. Women are pressured to uphold family honor, trapping them in abusive households and harming their mental health.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth the aforementioned studies highlight patriarchal structures in Middle Eastern and South-East Asian communities that subordinate women. In these cultures, parents hold a high status, and children are expected to obey them. Women who recognize the injustice of these norms often struggle between family loyalty and self-worth. They fear appearing disrespectful, losing family support, and facing ostracism, leaving them feeling trapped and unable to improve their lives.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"colspec\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ctable id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Underline\"\u003e(a)\u003c/span\u003e: Regression Analysis predicting Perception of Entrapment (PE) from Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination (PFGD)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/caption\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth colspan=\"5\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eModel Summary\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eModel\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eR\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eR Square\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdjusted R Square\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStd. Error of the Estimate\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.653\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.426\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.425\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3.38802\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd colspan=\"5\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ea. Predictors: (Constant), PFGD\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"colspec\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"colspec\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"colspec\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ctable id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Underline\"\u003e(b)\u003c/span\u003e: ANOVA coefficients predicting Perception of Entrapment (PE) from Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination (PFGD)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/caption\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth colspan=\"7\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eANOVA\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eModel\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSum of Squares\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003edf\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMean Square\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eF\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSig.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd rowspan=\"3\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegression\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4819.386\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4819.386\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e419.855\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.000\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResidual\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6496.936\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e566\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11.479\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11316.322\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e567\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd colspan=\"7\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ea. Dependent Variable: PE\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd colspan=\"7\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eb. Predictors: (Constant), PFGD\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"colspec\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"colspec\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ctable id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Underline\"\u003e(c)\u003c/span\u003e: Regression Coefficients predicting Perception of Entrapment (PE) from Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination (PFGD)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/caption\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth colspan=\"7\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCoefficients\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth colspan=\"2\" rowspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eModel\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth colspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnstandardized Coefficients\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStandardized Coefficients\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth rowspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003et\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth rowspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSig.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eB\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStd. Error\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003cth align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeta\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/th\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd rowspan=\"2\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(Constant)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;.856\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.417\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e-2.052\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.041\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePFGD\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.490\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.024\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.653\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e20.490\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.000\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd colspan=\"7\" align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ea. Dependent Variable: PE\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/td\u003e\n\u003c/tr\u003e\n\u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs observed from Tables\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e(a), (b) and (c), the linear regression analysis predicting perception of entrapment by perceived familial gender discrimination revealed a statistically significant model (F (1,418)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;419.855, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.05), with an adjusted R\u0026sup2; of .425. This finding suggests that perceived familial gender discrimination accounts for approximately 42.6% of the variance in perception of entrapment among the subjects. This indicates a large effect of perceived familial gender discrimination on perception of entrapment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe more perceived familial gender discrimination increases, the more entrapment would be reported by females. That is, individuals who perceive themselves to be discriminated against by their family more frequently is more likely to report being entrapped. This finding gives an important statistical evidence that gender discriminant behaviours in familial contexts causes a female child to perceive herself as entrapped in her household quite intensely. This finding also confirms similar findings by the likes of Elias, Alnabilsy and Pagorek-Eshel (\u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e) and Gilbert, Gilbert and Sanghera (\u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLearned helplessness, given by Seligman (\u003cspan class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1967\u003c/span\u003e) and a concept that gave rise to the concept of entrapment, is a psychological condition where individuals feel unable to change their circumstances due to repeated exposure to uncontrollable and adverse situations. Individuals facing a state of learned helplessness often report lacking control over outcomes and the inability to learn things that can turn circumstances in their favour, a sense of powerlessness, passive behavior, lacking motivation to change or improve their conditions, lowered self-esteem and higher levels of reported anxiety and depressive symptoms. Instances of heavy emphasis on traditional lifestyle by family members, lack of familial support and encouragement, and negative feedback and criticism may result in females thinking that they cannot do something about their circumstances, and feel demotivated to put efforts into their life\u0026rsquo;s betterment, as they blame themselves for failures and perceive success and achievement as impossible and avoid grabbing any opportunity that may enhance their lives. Thus, all this puts a female in a state of entrapment in their misogynistic, patriarchal households.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSocial comparison theory, proposed by Leon Festinger in 1954, states that individuals determine their own social and personal worth based on how they stand in front of others. People compare themselves to others as a way of developing self-evaluation, self-enhancement, and understanding social reality. This theory is crucial in explaining how individuals perceive their circumstances and react to social information.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this study, the significantly strong direct relationship between perceived familial gender discrimination (PFGD) and the perception of entrapment can be elucidated through social comparison theory. Female students may compare themselves to their male siblings, noticing disparities in treatment, expectations, and opportunities. These intra-family comparisons highlight the gender biases and amplify feelings of being trapped in a discriminatory environment. These students might also compare their family experiences with those of their peers. Observing that others do not face the same level of discrimination can exacerbate their sense of entrapment. Persistent familial gender discrimination can lead to negative self-evaluation. When female students perceive themselves as unfairly treated compared to their male counterparts, it impacts their self-esteem and self-worth, leading to a feeling of entrapment. Through repeated comparisons, students might internalize these discriminatory attitudes, affecting their overall mental health and perception of personal freedom. The constant comparison and realization of being discriminated against can lead to heightened stress and anxiety. This psychological strain reinforces the perception of being entrapped in an unfair system. Feeling stuck in a system that devalues them solely based on gender can create a powerful sense of entrapment. The socioeconomic status of these students - upper and lower middle class - may also influence the intensity of these comparisons. In more affluent settings, where education and awareness levels are higher, the contrast between expected equality and experienced discrimination might be more pronounced, thereby intensifying the perception of entrapment.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"6. Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003ePerceived familial gender discrimination has a strong and significant relationship with perception of entrapment among female college students. With 42.6% variance in perception of entrapment accounted by perceived familial gender discrimination, it has also been proven that perceived familial gender discrimination has a significant direct effect on perception of entrapment.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"7. Implications","content":"\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study highlights the importance of raising awareness about the detrimental effects of familial gender discrimination. Community-based programs can educate families about gender equality and the long-term negative impacts of discrimination on young women's psychological well-being.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eEstablishing support groups and mentorship programs for young women can provide them with a platform to share their experiences and receive guidance. Mentorship from women who have successfully navigated similar challenges can be particularly empowering.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eEngaging fathers and brothers in discussions about gender equality can help address the root causes of familial gender discrimination. Programs that involve male family members in promoting gender equality can lead to more supportive home environments for young women.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eIncorporating gender studies and discussions on gender equality into the educational curriculum can sensitize students to issues of gender discrimination from an early age, fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment within educational institutions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eProviding training for educators on recognizing and addressing signs of gender discrimination can enable them to better support affected students. Educators can play a crucial role in identifying students who may be experiencing familial gender discrimination and directing them to appropriate resources.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eEnhancing the availability and accessibility of counselling services within educational institutions can help students cope with the psychological impacts of gender discrimination. Counsellors should be trained to address issues related to gender discrimination and self-efficacy.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eHealthcare providers, especially those working in the mental health field, should screen for signs of familial gender discrimination when assessing young women. Early identification and intervention can prevent the escalation of psychological issues such as depression and suicidal ideation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eImplementing integrated care models that combine mental health services with educational and social support can provide comprehensive care for young women facing gender discrimination. This holistic approach can address both the psychological and social aspects of their experiences.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eStrengthening legal frameworks and policies to protect young women from gender discrimination is essential. This includes laws that explicitly address gender discrimination within families and ensure that young women have access to legal recourse and support services.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eFuture research should explore the impact of perceived familial gender discrimination on different demographic groups, including women from various socioeconomic statuses, cultural backgrounds, and geographic regions. This can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the issue.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eConducting longitudinal studies can help establish causal relationships and track the long-term effects of familial gender discrimination on psychological outcomes. This can inform more effective interventions and policies.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cp\u003eInvestigating the intersection of gender discrimination with other forms of discrimination (e.g., based on race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation) can provide insights into the compounded effects on young women's well-being. This intersectional approach can lead to more inclusive and effective solutions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/li\u003e \u003c/ul\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChu C, Walker KL, Stanley IH, Hirsch JK, Greenberg JH, Rudd MD, Joiner TE (2018) Perceived problem-solving deficits and suicidal ideation: Evidence for the explanatory roles of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness in five samples. J Personal Soc Psychol 115(1):137\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ede Beurs D, Cleare S, Wetherall K, Eschle-Byrne S, Ferguson E, O\u0026rsquo;Connor B, D., O\u0026rsquo;Connor C, R (2020) Entrapment and Suicide Risk: The Development of the 4-item Entrapment Scale Short-Form (E-SF). Psychiatry Res 284:112765. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112765\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112765\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eElias H, Alnabilsy R, Pagorek-Eshel S (2019) Barriers to Receiving Support among Young Arab Women in Israel Who Have Been Abused in Childhood. Br J Social Work 49(8):2073\u0026ndash;2091. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcz007\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1093/bjsw/bcz007\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFestinger L (1954) A Theory of Social Comparison Processes. Hum Relat 7(2):117\u0026ndash;140. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1177/001872675400700202\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1177/001872675400700202\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eForkmann T, Teismann T, Stenzel JS, Glaesmer H, de Beurs D (2018) Defeat and Entrapment: More than meets the eye? Applying Network Analysis to Estimate Dimensions of Highly Correlated Constructs. BMC Med Res Methodol 18(1):1\u0026ndash;9. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-018-0470-5\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1186/s12874-018-0470-5\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGazzaniga MS, Heatherton TF (2003) Psychological Science: Mind, Brain, and Behavior, 1st edn. WW Norton and Company, New York\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGilbert P, Gilbert J, Sanghera J (2004) A focus group exploration of the impact of izzat, shame, subordination and entrapment on mental health and service use in South Asian women living in Derby. Mental Health Relig Cult 7(2):109\u0026ndash;130\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGilbert P (2001) Depression and Stress: A Biopsychosocial Exploration of Evolved Functions and Mechanisms. Stress 4(2):121\u0026ndash;135\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGilbert P, Allan S (1998) The role of defeat and entrapment (arrested flight) in depression: An exploration of an evolutionary view. Psychol Med 28(3):585\u0026ndash;598. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291798006710\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1017/S0033291798006710\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKira IA, Hanaa S, Bujold-Bugeaud M (2015) Gender Discrimination (GD): A Conceptual Trauma-based Framework for GD and the Development of Gender Discrimination Inventory. Psychology 6:2041\u0026ndash;2070. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttp://dx.doi.org/10.4236/psych.2015.616201\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.4236/psych.2015.616201\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMohanty A, Pradhan RK, Jena LK (2015) Learned Helplessness and Socialization: A Reflective Analysis. Psychology 6(7):885\u0026ndash;895\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNesse RM (2000) Is depression an adaptation? Arch Gen Psychiatry 57:14\u0026ndash;20\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOakley-Frost DN, Harris JA, May AM, Bryan AO, Tucker RP, Bryan CJ (2022) Internal entrapment and fearlessness about death as precipitants of suicidal thoughts and planning in the context of post-traumatic stress disorder. Suicide Life-Threat Behav 52(1):147\u0026ndash;158. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12815\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1111/sltb.12815\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eO'Connor RC, Kirtley OJ (2018) The Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model of Suicidal Behaviour. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 373(1754):20170268. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2017.0268\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1098/rstb.2017.0268\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eO'Connor RC, Nock MK (2014) The Psychology of Suicidal Behaviour. Lancet Psychiatry 1(1):73\u0026ndash;85\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eParra LA, van Bergen DD, Dumon E, Kretschmer T, La Roi C, Portzky G, Frost DM (2021) Family Belongingness attenuates Entrapment and buffers its association with Suicidal Ideation in a sample of Dutch sexual minority emerging adults. Arch Sex Behav 50(3):983\u0026ndash;1001. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01838-0\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1007/s10508-020-01838-0\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlatt S (2016) Inequalities and Suicidal Behavior. In: O'Connor RC, Pirkis J (eds) International handbook of suicide prevention, 2nd edn. Wiley, Chichester, UK, pp 211\u0026ndash;234\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrice JS, Gardner R Jr., Wilson DR, Sloman L, Rohde P, Erickson M (2007) Territory, Rank and Mental Health: The History of An Idea. Evolutionary Psychol 5:531\u0026ndash;554\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeligman MEP, Maier SF (1967) Failure to escape traumatic shock. J Exp Psychol 74:1\u0026ndash;9. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0024514\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1037/h0024514\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination, Perception of Entrapment, Mental Health, Indian Female Emerging Adults","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5022713/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5022713/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study investigates the impact of perceived familial gender discrimination (PFGD) and perception of entrapment (PE) on the mental health of female emerging adults in India. The sample comprised 568 unmarried and unemployed female college students aged 18 and above, selected using purposive sampling. The research utilized the Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Status Scale, Gender Discrimination by Parents’ Behaviours subscale, and Entrapment Short Form Scale to measure the variables. The results indicate a significant positive relationship between PFGD and PE (r = .653, p \u0026lt; .01), suggesting that higher levels of perceived discrimination are associated with increased feelings of entrapment. The regression analysis revealed that PFGD significantly predicts PE, accounting for 42.6% of the variance (F(1418) = 419.855, p \u0026lt; .05). This finding highlights the profound impact of familial gender discrimination on the psychological well-being of young women, leading to a heightened sense of entrapment. The study underscores the importance of addressing gender discrimination within families to improve the mental health outcomes of female emerging adults. Future research should explore the intersectionality of gender discrimination with other forms of discrimination and examine its long-term effects on mental health across diverse demographic groups.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Impact of Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination and Entrapment on the Mental Health of Female Emerging Adults","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-09-06 03:12:39","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5022713/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"c801d184-246c-41a7-967a-acef38bbaf54","owner":[],"postedDate":"September 6th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":37008984,"name":"Psychology"},{"id":37008985,"name":"Gender Studies"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-09-18T04:02:21+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-09-06 03:12:39","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-5022713","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-5022713","identity":"rs-5022713","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"_2-kVJe1T_tPrBINL-cwx","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}

Text is read by the "Ask this paper" AI Q&A widget below. Extraction quality varies by source — PMC NXML preserves structure cleanly, OA-HTML may include some navigation residue, and OA-PDF can have broken hyphenation. The publisher copy (via DOI) is the canonical version.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

Ask this paper AI returns verbatim quotes from the full text · source: preprint-html

Answers must be backed by verbatim quotes from this paper's full text. Hallucinated quotes are dropped automatically; if no verbatim passage answers the question, we say so. How this works

Citation neighborhood (no data yet)

We don't have any in-corpus citations linked to this paper yet. This is a recent paper (2024) — citers typically take a year or two to land, and the OpenAlex reference graph may still be filling in.

Source provenance

europepmc
last seen: 2026-05-20T01:45:00.602351+00:00
unpaywall
last seen: 2026-06-05T02:00:03.366016+00:00
License: CC-BY-4.0