PURPOSE
This descriptive correlation study was designed to examine the relationship of inferiority to depression and psychosomatic symptoms in female adolescents. In addition, this study investigated the mediating effect of perceived entrapment in relation to inferiority and other variables.
METHOD
Data were collected from 526 female high school students. Self-report questionnaires, which were constructed to include demographic factors, inferiority, perceived entrapment, depression and psychosomatic symptoms, were used for data collection.
RESULTS
Students with high inferiority showed significantly higher perceived entrapment, depression and psychosomatic symptoms. There were significant positive correlations among the variables. Perceived entrapment had a significant mediating effect in relation to inferiority, depression and psychosomatic symptoms.
CONCLUSION
Further study is necessary to develop effective nursing interventions for managing inferiority and perceived entrapment in this population.