Entrapment, Hopelessness, and Cognitive Control: A Moderated Mediation Model of Depression

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the roles that hopelessness and cognitive control play in the relationship between entrapment and depression. Data were collected from 367 college students in South Korea. The participants completed a questionnaire that consisted of the Entrapment Scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Beck Hopelessness Inventory, and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory. Results showed that hopelessness partially mediated the relationship between entrapment and depression. In addition, cognitive control moderated the relationship between entrapment and hopelessness: greater cognitive control weakened the positive association between entrapment and hopelessness. Finally, the mediating effect of hopelessness was moderated by cognitive control. The findings of this study expand the understanding of the protective role of cognitive control, especially when an increased sense of entrapment and hopelessness intensifies depression.

Depression and Looming Cognitive Style: Examining the Mediating Effect of Perceived Control

“…Indeed, according to the helplessness-hopelessness hypothesis (Alloy et al, 1990) anxiety and helplessness can develop into depression and hopelessness when negative events are perceived as inescapable. Therefore, given the relationship between hopelessness and control (Choi and Shin, 2023), it is not unreasonable for the present study to suggest that perceived control (over evading threats) could act as a mechanism through which LCS maintains depression.…”

“…Threat representations perceived as uncontrollable could mediate the relationship between LCS and depression by contributing to avoidance coping which could foster feelings of hopelessness (Choi and Shin, 2023;Kleiman and Riskind, 2012). Indeed, according to the helplessness-hopelessness hypothesis (Alloy et al, 1990) anxiety and helplessness can develop into depression and hopelessness when negative events are perceived as inescapable.…”

Sex differences in entrapment in a multinational sample: a network analysis perspective

“…In both male and female participants tested, this finding suggests that many people may feel deep hopelessness, frustration, and an inability to change a problematic situation in two essential situations. For example, it is possible that this sense of entrapment is especially reinforced when they perceive that their personal attempts in the face of adversity often fail and in the idea or constant motivations to escape in any way from a highly stressful context that they are unable to control ( 10 ). Thus, the above is consistent with reviews of studies reporting that both low frustration tolerance beliefs and perceived low self-control are relevant factors predisposing to strong psychological stress ( 55 , 56 ).…”

“…To date, there are few studies that evaluate the existence of significant sex differences in levels of feelings of entrapment suggesting that women exhibit higher levels of entrapment compared to men. Examples of such research include the study by Choi & Shin ( 10 ), which examined 367 participants in South Korea, and the study by Ren et al. ( 11 ), which involved 1,074 participants in China, both studies highlight that according to psychosocial factors, such as abusive relationships, unequal opportunities, gender roles, it is women who demonstrate greater entrapment compared to men.…”

Alexithymia, Burnout and Hopelessness in a Large Sample of Healthcare Workers during the Third Wave of COVID-19 in Italy

“…This definition of hopelessness corresponds to the third component of the negative triad of Aaron T. Beck's cognitive model of depression consisting of: a negative view of the self; a negative view of the present; and a pessimistic view of the future [17]. Hopelessness is a psychological construct that can underlie various psychological disorders and related symptoms such as anxiety, depression, suicide, schizophrenia, and substance abuse [18]. Besides, hopelessness has clinical utility for the assessment and prediction of suicide [19].…”