Entrapment Through the Lens of Escape Theory: Predictive Roles of Narcissism, Social Isolation, and Dysfunctional Attitudes in Adults
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Objective: Entrapment, the subjective experience of being stuck in inescapable and aversive psychological states, is increasingly recognized as a core component of emotional suffering and a precursor to suicidal ideation. This study aimed to examine whether narcissism, social isolation, and dysfunctional attitudes significantly predict levels of entrapment in adults.
Methods and Materials: A descriptive-correlational research design was adopted. A total of 317 adult residents of Isfahan, Iran, were selected through convenience sampling. Participants completed four self-report instruments: the Entrapment Scale (Gilbert & Allan, 1998), the Narcissistic Personality Inventory-16 (Ames et al., 2006), the Social Isolation Scale (Chalabi & Amir Kafi, 2004), and the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (Weissman & Beck, 1978). Stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted in SPSS version 27 to identify the most significant predictors of entrapment.
Findings: Stepwise regression indicated substantial incremental validity (ΔR²=.562/.086/.037 across Steps 1–3; total R²=.685). All predictors were significant (β=.471 for narcissism, β=.267 for social isolation, β=.247 for dysfunctional attitudes; all ps<.001). Model diagnostics supported assumptions (Durbin–Watson = 1.952). Ninety-five percent confidence intervals for the unstandardized coefficients were: narcissism b=1.77 [1.47, 2.06], social isolation b=0.30 [0.21, 0.38], dysfunctional attitudes b=0.15 [0.10, 0.19].
Conclusion: The results support the predictive roles of narcissism, social isolation, and dysfunctional attitudes within the framework of Escape Theory. Although the data are correlational and drawn from a non-clinical urban sample, the study offers culturally grounded evidence for Escape Theory and points to possible directions for preventive and psychoeducational approaches that address feelings of entrapment in everyday life.
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