Navigating anhedonia: a phenomenological study of Iranian adolescents’ lived experiences

Abstract This study explored the lived experiences of Iranian adolescents with anhedonia using a descriptive phenomenological approach. Anhedonia, a core feature of mood disorders, particularly depression, may influence adolescents’ emotional well-being, motivation, and daily functioning. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 51 adolescents aged 13 to 18 who had sought clinical services at Rose White Psychology Clinics across various regions of Iran. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step descriptive phenomenological method, resulting in five overarching themes: Parallel Living, Changing the Formula of Success, Emotional Erosion, The Need for Authentic Spaces for Self-Expression, and Finding Relief Through Focused Activities. Findings suggest that adolescents’ experiences of anhedonia extended beyond diminished pleasure and were often described in relation to identity struggles, sociocultural pressures, and challenges related to meaning and authenticity. Participants frequently portrayed anhedonia as intertwined with tensions between personal aspirations and externally imposed expectations. These findings may inform the development of culturally responsive assessment approaches and interventions that support meaning-making, authentic social connection, and psychological resilience among adolescents. The study contributes to a growing body of literature examining adolescent anhedonia within diverse cultural contexts and offers insights into how this phenomenon is experienced and interpreted among Iranian youth.