Hope as a bridge: Navigating Illness Perception and Maintaining Dignity among Client with Schizophrenia

Background: Schizophrenia, a prevalent severe mental disorder, significantly impacts individuals' lives and imposes a substantial burden on their families and society. Negative illness perceptions can further diminish self-worth and dignity, complicating recovery and overall well-being. While prior studies have established a link between hope and positive outcomes, a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms and their implications for psychosocial interventions remains elusive. By investigating how hope can serve as a bridge between illness perception and the maintenance of dignity, this study aims to enhance our understanding of these dynamics, ultimately informing targeted interventions that promote hope, enhance illness perception, and dignity perception for clients with schizophrenia. Objective: This study explores the role of hope as a bridge between illness perception and dignity among clients with schizophrenia. Materials and Method: A descriptive correlational design was used on a sample of convenient 130 participants who met the inclusion criteria. Four tools were used for data collection (Socio-demographic and clinical data questionnaire, Dispositional Hope Scale (DHS, Patient’s Dignity Inventory (PDI), and Illness Perception Scale for Schizophrenia (IPQ-S). Results:  The correlational analysis reveals significant negative correlations between hope and illness perception dimensions. Conversely, positive correlations exist between the Patient Dignity Inventory and several IPQ-S dimensions, such as timeline cyclical, consequences, and emotional representations. Regression analysis identifies these dimensions as predictors of dignity-related distress, with higher hope linked to lower dignity distress levels. Mediation analysis shows that Dispositional Hope Scale (DHS) mediates the relationship between certain IPQ-S dimensions and dignity distress, specifically affecting the timeline cyclical, illness coherence, and emotional representations dimension. Conclusion& recommendations: The findings suggest that hope, illness perception, and dignity are interconnected and significantly influence the well-being of individuals with schizophrenia. To improve patient outcomes, mental health nurses should integrate interventions that foster hope, challenge negative illness perceptions, and dignity distress. Additionally, holistic patient care models should be implemented to address both psychological and emotional needs, and future research should delve deeper into the relationship between hope, illness perception, and other clinical variables in schizophrenia.