Emotional Distress and Psychological Entrapment in Toxic Relationships: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Rijal Abdillah; Ditta Febrieta; Fathana Gina

doi:10.58421/gehu.v5i5.2005

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58421/gehu.v5i5.2005

Authors

Rijal Abdillah Universitas Bhayangkara Jakarta Raya, Jakarta https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7679-8077
Ditta Febrieta Universitas Bhayangkara Jakarta Raya, Jakarta
Fathana Gina Universitas Bhayangkara Jakarta Raya, Jakarta

Keywords:

Interpretative , Phenomenological Analysis, Psychological Dynamics, Toxic Relationships, Young Adults

Abstract

This study explored emotional distress and psychological entrapment among individuals who had experienced a toxic romantic relationship, using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach. Two young adults who met the inclusion criteria of having experienced and exited a toxic relationship, and of reporting ongoing emotional distress, served as the primary participants; they were selected through purposive sampling and their accounts were further contextualized through corroborating interviews with two close informants, who were not analyzed as primary IPA cases. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, non-participant observation, and documentation, and analyzed using IPA. Findings indicate that toxic relationships developed through a gradual escalation of harmful behavior, produced an erosion of both participants’ self-concept that extended beyond momentary distress, and centered on a mechanism of psychological entrapment in which awareness of harm did not translate into the capacity to leave; for one participant this awareness only crystallized after the relationship ended, while for the other it coexisted with continued entrapment. These patterns tentatively suggest, based on these two idiographic cases, that toxic relationships may be more usefully understood as a dynamic, multi-stage psychological process—spanning escalation, self-erosion, entrapment, and post-relationship identity reconstruction—rather than as a static condition. This study contributes an in-depth, culturally situated account of how psychological entrapment and post-breakup identity reconstruction are subjectively experienced, offering a foundation for more contextually grounded prevention and counseling approaches for young adults in Indonesia.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

. Mukhopadhyay J, Singh R, Bhattacharjee A. Toxic Relationships: A Multidisciplinary Exploration of Mental Health Implications. In: Singh A, Bhadouria R, Tripathi S, Modi R, Gupta S, editors. Empowering Indian Women Through Resilience: Recent Developments and Future Perspective. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore; 2024. p. 151–75.

. Saskia NN, Idris FP, Sumiaty. Perilaku Toxic Relationship terhadap Kesehatan Remaja di Kota Makassar. Wind Public Heal J. 2023;4(3):525–38.

. Yoyen E, Calik S, Baris TG. Predictors of Young Adult Women’s Psychological Well-Being in Romantic Relationships. Behav Sci (Basel). 2025;15(1):1–24.

. Fitriani F, Saputri ED, Padelah Y, Septiana R, Jihan Z. Transformasi Toxic Relationship dengan Pendekatan Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Proceeding Conf Psychol Behav Sci. 2024;3(1):257–62.

. Guermazi F, Tabib F, Cherif F, Masmoudi J, Masmoudi R, Mnif D, et al. Intimate Partner Violence in Tunisia: Emotional Abuse and Dependency, Alexithymia, and Self-Esteem in Female Victims. MDPI. 2024;13(503).

. Shaver PR, Mikulincer M. A Behavioral Systems Approach to Romantic Love Relationships: Attachment, Caregiving, and Sex. In: Chapter draft for a volume on the psychology of love. 2005. p. 1–32.

. Effiong JE, Ibeagha PN, Iorfa SK. Traumatic bonding in victims of intimate partner violence is intensified via empathy. J Soc Pers Relat. 2022;39(12):3619–37.

. Reid JA. Trauma Bonding and Intimate Partner Violence. In: Trauma Bonding and Interpersonal Crimes [Internet]. 2024. p. 37–53.

. Stylianou AM. Economic Abuse Within Intimate Partner Violence: A Review of the Literature. Violence Vict. 2018;33(1):3–22.

. Postmus JL, Hoge GL, Breckenridge J, Sharp-Jeffs N, Chung D. Economic Abuse as an Invisible Form of Domestic Violence: A Multicountry Review. Trauma, Violence, Abus. 2018;1–23.

. Knox L, Karantzas G, Ferguson E. The Role of Attachment, Insecurity, and Stress in Partner Maltreatment: A Meta-Analysis. Trauma, Violence, Abus. 2024;25(1):721–37.

. Mahmudah S, Astutik F, Diana, Rahayu D, Handayani N. Coping Strategies in the Toxic Relationships: A Phenomenological Study of Emerging Adults. Int J Body, Mind, Cult. 2021;12(3):35–50.

. Lortkipanidze M, Javakhishvili N, Schwartz SJ. Mental health of intimate partner violence victims: depression, anxiety, and life satisfaction. Front Psychol. 2025;16:1–11.

. Alda, Elsera M. Toxic Relationship as Dating Violence: An Examination in the Sociology of Religion. BELIEF Sociol Relig J. 2024;2(1):75–82.

. CATAHU. Menata Data, Menajamkan Arah: Refleksi Pendokumentasian dan Tren Kasus Kekerasan terhadap Perempuan 2024 [Internet]. KOMNAS PEREMPUAN. 2024. 130 p.

. World Health Organization. Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates, 2018 [Internet]. Geneva; 2021.

. Wincentak K, Connolly J, Card N. Teen dating violence: A meta-analytic review of prevalence rates. Psychol Violence. 2017;7:224–41.

. Spencer C, Mallory AB, Cafferky BM, Kimmes JG, Beck AR, Stith SM. Mental health factors and intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization: A meta-analysis. Psychol Violence. 2019;9:1–17.

. Campo-Tena L, Larmour SR, Pereda N, Eisner MP. Longitudinal Associations Between Adolescent Dating Violence Victimization and Adverse Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Trauma, Violence, Abus. 2024;25(2):1265–77.

. Shorey RC, Seavey AE, Brasfield H, Febres J, Fite PJ, Stuart GL. The Moderating Effect of Social Support From a Dating Partner on the Association Between Dating Violence Victimization and Adjustment. Violence Against Women. 2015;21(4):460–77.

. Cui M, Ueno K, Gordon M, Fincham FD. The Continuation of Intimate Partner Violence From Adolescence to Young Adulthood. J Marriage Fam. 2013;75(2):300–13.

. Slavich GM. Social Safety Theory: A Biologically Based Evolutionary Perspective on Life Stress, Health, and Behavior. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2020;16:265–96.

. Dworkin ER, Menon SV, Bystrynski J, Allen NE. Sexual assault victimization and psychopathology: A review and meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev. 2017;56:65–81.

. Speranza AM, Farina B, Bossa C, Fortunato A, Vergano CM, Palmiero L, et al. The Role of Complex Trauma and Attachment Patterns in Intimate Partner Violence. Front Psychol. 2022;12:1–10.

. Biggs A, Brough P, Drummond S. Lazarus and Folkman’s Psychological Stress and Coping Theory. In: The Handbook of Stress and Health: A Guide to Research and Practice. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.; 2017. p. 350–64.

. Durão A, Conde A. Understanding Love in Couple Relationships: A Scoping Review of Sternberg’s Triangular Theory. Psychol Rep. 2026;0(0):1–25.

. Creswell JW. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. SAGE Publications; 2009.

. Eddles-Hirsch K. Phenomenology and educational research. Int J Adv Res. 2015;3(8):251–60.

. Smith JA. Reflecting on the development of interpretative phenomenological analysis and its contribution to qualitative research in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2004;1(1):39–54.

. Rajasinghe D, Garvey B, Burt S, Barosa-Pereira A, Clutterbuck D. Innovative interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach in a coaching research project: implications for future qualitative coaching research and beyond. Coach An Int J Theory Res Pract. 2024;17(2):301–18.

. Larkin M, Thompson AR. Interpretative phenomenological analysis in mental health and psychotherapy research. In: Harper D, Thompson AR, editors. Qualitative Research Methods in Mental Health and Psychotherapy: A Guide for Students and Practitioners. Wiley; 2011. p. 99–116.

. Kececi B, Ummet D. A study of psychological violence in intimate partner relationships among university students: a mixed-methods research. Humanit Soc Sci Commun. 2025;12(72):1–15.

. Yardley L. Dilemmas in qualitative health research. Psychol Health. 2000;15(2):215–28.

. Enworo OC. Application of Guba and Lincoln’s parallel criteria to assess trustworthiness of qualitative research on indigenous social protection systems. Qual Res J. 2023;23(4):372–84.

. Etzold S. Intimate Partner and Domestic Violence. In: Handbook of Forensic Medicine [Internet]. 2022. p. 987–94.

. Kanda AS, Kivania R. Dampak Toxic Relationship Terhadap Kesehatan Mental. SAMMAJIVA J Penelit Bisnis dan Manaj. 2024;2(1):118–29.

. Maharani KD, Kalifa AD. Pengaruh Toxic Relathionship Pada Remaja Di Indonesia. Gudang J Multidisiplin Ilmu. 2024;2(1):386–90.

. Isaiah US, Effiong JE, Udokang I, Ogwuche S, Udoukok EN, Iorfa SK. Need for closure is linked with traumatic bonding among victims of intimate partner violence: A mediation approach. J Soc Pers Relat. 2024;41:2006–22.

. Lesiak M, Gelsthorpe L. The Invisible Abuser: Attachment, Victimization, and Perpetrator Perception in Repeat Abuse. Violence Against Women. 2025;1–20.

. Chi G, Dariyo A. Gambaran Toxic Relationship Bagi Dewasa Awal Yang Berpacaran. Pedagog J Ilmu Pendidik dan Psikol. 2025;4(4):542–54.

. Rajkumar RP. Cultural collectivism, intimate partner violence, and women’s mental health: an analysis of data from 151 countries. Front Sociol. 2023;8:1125771.