The DOI matches its Crossref record; 56 of the 57 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Youth social withdrawal behavior (hikikomori): A systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies
Abstract
Objective Acute and/or severe social withdrawal behavior among youth was seen as a culture-bound psychiatric syndrome in Japan, but more youth social withdrawal cases in different countries have been discovered recently. However, due to the lack of a formal definition and diagnostic tool for youth social withdrawal, cross-cultural observational and intervention studies are limited. We aimed to consolidate existing knowledge in order to understand youth social withdrawal from diverse perspectives and suggest different interventions for different trajectories of youth social withdrawal. Method This review examined the current available scientific information on youth social withdrawal in the academic databases: ProQuest, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and PubMed. We included quantitative and qualitative studies of socially withdrawn youths published in English and academic peer-reviewed journals. Results We synthesized the information into the following categories: (1) definitions of youth social withdrawal, (2) developmental theories, (3) factors associated with youth social withdrawal and (4) interventions for socially withdrawn youths. Accordingly, there are diverse and controversial definitions for youth social withdrawal. Studies of youth social withdrawal are based on models that lead to quite different conclusions. Researchers with an attachment perspective view youth social withdrawal as a negative phenomenon, whereas those who adopt Erikson's developmental theory view i…
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In the citing paper
“Further, maladaptive parenting and familial dysfunction are important factors in adolescent hikikomori [49].”
In the citing paper
“Dysfunctional family relationships have been identified in other countries, including Hong Kong, Spain, Italy, and France”
In the citing paper
“Although family factors contribute to hikikomori severity worldwide”
In the citing paper
“According to previous studies, interest-based activities customized to the youth's level of engagement (22, 29) promote positive youth development and social skills (38) in hidden youth.”
In the citing paper
“CBT-based interventions also target youths' negative beliefs such as the belief that they do not fit into society, or the world is against them (29).”
Citations
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Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA Statement.
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Social brain, social dysfunction and social withdrawal
Porcelli, S., van der Wee, N. J. A., van der Werff, S. J., Aghajani, M., Glennon, J. C., van Heukelum, S., Mogavero, F., Lobo, A., Olivera, F. J. N., Lobo, E., et al. (2018) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.09.012 · Cited by 425
Tateno, M., Teo, A. R., Ukai, W., Kanazawa, J., Katsuki, R., Kubo, H., & Kato, T. A. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00455 · Cited by 393
Ostinelli, E. G., Zangani, C., Giordano, B., Maestri, D., Gambini, O., D’Agostino, A., Furukawa, T. A., & Purgato, M. (2021) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.02.014 · Cited by 275
Achterbergh, L., Pitman, A., Birken, M., Pearce, E., Sno, H. N., & Johnson, S. (2020) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-020-02818-3 · Cited by 306
Development and validation of the 25‐item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ‐25)
Teo, A. R., Chen, J. I., Kubo, H., Katsuki, R., Sato‐Kasai, M., Shimokawa, N., Hayakawa, K., Umene‐Nakano, W., Aikens, J. E., Kanba, S., et al. (2018) · Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences · doi:10.1111/pcn.12691 · Cited by 209
Metadata
- Authors
- Li, T. M., & Wong, P. W.
- Affiliations
- University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Venue
- Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2015-04-10
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 595-609
- ISSN
- 0004-8674 (ISSN-L)
- 1440-1614
- OpenAlex
- W2127550345
- Cited by
- 188
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 2
- FWCI
- 4.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- The HKU Scholars Hub (University of Hong Kong) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Youth Substance Use and School Attendance
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Youth Education and Societal Dynamics
- Keywords
- hikikomori, developmental theory, attachment theory, Erikson's psychosocial development, risk factors, intervention, cross-cultural comparison, theoretical framework
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Models, Psychological, Social Behavior Disorders, Social Isolation
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