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.