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Envisioning a Hopeful Future Despite Schizophrenia: The Role of Self-Concept Clarity and Narrative Identity.

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Title: Envisioning a Hopeful Future Despite Schizophrenia: The Role of Self-Concept Clarity and Narrative Identity.
Authors: Lind M; Department of Culture & Communication, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark., Svendsen R; Department of Culture & Communication, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark., Flesjø K; Department of Culture & Communication, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark., Nilsson KK; Department of Culture & Communication, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
Source: Scandinavian journal of psychology [Scand J Psychol] 2026 Oct; Vol. 67 (5), pp. 1327-1336. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 May 08.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Blackwell Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0404510 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1467-9450 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00365564 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Scand J Psychol Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Publication: Oxford : Blackwell
Original Publication: Oslo : Scandinavian University Press
MeSH Terms: Self Concept* , Hope* , Schizophrenia* , Schizophrenic Psychology*, Humans ; Adult ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Narration
Abstract: Schizophrenia (SZ) has been linked with a pessimistic future outlook but the specific factors influencing such outlook are still to be mapped out. SZ is often referred to as a self-disorder and sense of self has been suggested to be a crucial factor influencing future view. Using a mixed-measurement approach, the present study examined two aspects of temporal sense of self in SZ-self-concept clarity and narrative identity-and tested whether each uniquely contributed to predicting future outlook (i.e., levels of future hope and the perceived influence of diagnosis on one's future). A total of 130 adults with SZ participated in the study (Mage = 34.58, SD = 10.22). Self-concept clarity was assessed through self-report and narrative identity through open-ended elaborations on the future that were content coded following gold-standard procedures. Hope for the future was assessed using self-report and perceived influence of diagnosis in the future was assessed through content coded, open-ended elaborations. Both self-concept clarity and narrative identity contributed independently to a more hopeful future outlook while self-concept clarity alone impacted whether diagnosis was expected to influence the future. Distinct dimensions of the temporal sense of self were associated with future outlook in schizophrenia, and their potential role in the recovery process was discussed.
(© 2026 The Author(s). Scandinavian Journal of Psychology published by Scandinavian Psychological Associations and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
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Contributed Indexing: Keywords: hope; narrative identity; recovery; schizophrenia; self‐concept clarity
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260508 Date Completed: 20260905 Latest Revision: 20260907
Update Code: 20260907
PubMed Central ID: PMC13546098
DOI: 10.1111/sjop.70113
PMID: 42104202
Database: MEDLINE
Description
ISSN:1467-9450
DOI:10.1111/sjop.70113