Alexithymia, Social Anhedonia, and Empathy among Client with Schizophrenia: Mediation Model

Background and Aim: According to earlier studies, schizophrenia is often characterized by social
withdrawal and a lack of emotional connection. Alexithymia, and social anhedonia significantly impacts
the quality of life for individuals with schizophrenia. If empathy is indeed a mediator between alexithymia,
and social anhedonia, then it becomes a potential target for therapeutic interventions. Training programs
or treatments designed to enhance empathy could have a significant impact on the social functioning of
individuals with schizophrenia. However, limited researches have explored this mediation role of empathy
in relationship between alexithymia and social anhedonia among individuals with schizophrenia. So, this
study aimed to investigate the mediating role of empathy in relationship between alexithymia and social
anhedonia among individuals with schizophrenia. Subjects& Methods: A descriptive correlational
analytical design was used. on 170 randomly chosen participants who met the selection criteria. Four tools
were used for data collection (Socio-demographic and clinical data, Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS),
Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and Social Anhedonia Scale (RSAS).Results, Conclusion
&Recommendations: The present study revealed a significant positive correlation between alexithymia
and social anhedonia. However, empathy was negatively associated with both alexithymia and social
anhedonia. The results also provided evidence for a partial mediation effect of empathy in the relationship
between social anhedonia and alexithymia. This could be a stepping stone for developing more
comprehensive treatment plans not only improve social engagement but also foster empathy through
enhanced emotional awareness and expression, ultimately leading to better social functioning. This study
suggests that mental health nurses (MHNs) should prioritize assessing empathy, social anhedonia, and
alexithymia in patients with schizophrenia. Also, psychiatric and mental health nurses should focus on
training patients with schizophrenia to identify emotions, regulate them, and improve
communication/social interaction to enhance empathy and reduce the impact of alexithymia on social
anhedonia. Moreover, building a strong relationship is crucial to provide effective psychoeducation for
patients and families on the importance of empathy in social interactions.