The defeat-entrapment theory versus Beck's hopelessness theory of depression and suicidality: A cross-national analysis in Iran and the United States.
BACKGROUND
The defeat-entrapment theory has been proposed to explain both depression and suicidal behavior.


METHODS
Measures of defeat, entrapment, hopelessness and depression were administered to Iranian and American students.


RESULTS
Scores on measures of hopelessness, defeat, entrapment and depression were strongly associated. In both nations, scores for defeat and entrapment were stronger predictors of past suicidal ideation and attempted suicide. Overall, the Iranian respondents had higher scores on the measures of defeat, entrapment, hopelessness and depression, but less often reported prior suicidal ideation.


CONCLUSIONS
The defeat-entrapment theory of depression and suicidal behavior appears to have validity in both Iran and America.
Department of Counseling Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.
Mahdieh
M
Tarsafi
Department of Counseling Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.
Seyed Mohammad
SM
Kalantarkousheh
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Galloway, NJ, USA lesterd@stockton.edu.
David
D
Lester
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
Depression; defeat; entrapment; hopelessness