Moderating Role of Hope in Relationship between Anhedonia and Emptiness among Schizophrenic Individuals

Abstract

The present study examined the moderating role of hope between Anhedonia and emptiness in schizophrenic patients. The term "Anhedonia" refers to the schizophrenic patient’s lessened capacity to experience pleasant emotions and satisfaction in response to events and activities that normally trigger these sensations. Hope is thought to play a role in the recovery and rehabilitation process following mental illness and a major contributor to subjective well-being. The study was based on cross-sectional survey research design. Participants comprised of schizophrenic patients (N = 300) from hospitals situated in Multan and Sargodha. Both men and women participated in the study. Data were collected using purposive sampling technique. Four self-report measures including Demographic data sheet, Subjective Emptiness Scale. Hope in Schizophrenia Scale, Anhedonia in Adolescents Scale were used for data collection. Moderation analysis was applied for testing the hypotheses supposing that as the element of hope will increase in schizophrenic individuals, it will lessen the degree of anhedonia and emptiness among them. It was also hypothesized that hope would act as a moderator between anhedonia and emptiness. The findings revealed that the high level of hope in schizophrenic patients decreased the effect of anhedonia on emptiness. The findings empirically established that high level hope can be used to prevent the effects of Anhedonia on emptiness in schizophrenic patient.