A Qualitative Analysis of Self-Reported Pleasurable Experiences of Young Adults and Implications for Measures of Anhedonia
Recent Publication
A recent study from the Research Centre Transitional Psychiatry at KL is dedicated to the question of how young adults experience joy - and what this means for the measurement of anhedonia. The focus was on the "Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale" (DARS), whose predefined areas were analysed based on the responses of 300 participants aged between 18 and 30. Respondents particularly frequently cited everyday, physical and social activities such as spending time with others, music, nature and good food as sources of joy. Open answers also revealed aspects such as rest, reflection or cognitive stimulation, which have only been partially taken into account in existing measurement instruments to date. The publication was funded by KL's Open Access funding programme.
Mittmann, G., Dorczok, M. C., Thomas, M. F., Schwarzott, F., & Steiner-Hofbauer, V. (2026). A Qualitative Analysis of Self-Reported Pleasurable Experiences of Young Adults and Implications for Measures of Anhedonia. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-026-10268-6
Dr. Gloria Mittmann MSc
Scientific Staff (PostDoc)
Research Centre Transitional Psychiatry
Dr. Marina Frederike Thomas
Scientific Staff (PostDoc)
Research Centre Transitional Psychiatry
Mag. Dr. Verena Steiner-Hofbauer
Head of
Research Centre Transitional Psychiatry