SynthesisThe International journal of social psychiatry2025
Functioning, disability, and health of individuals with Hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal) and their families: A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies.
Synthesis in The International journal of social psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Association Between Loneliness and Hikikomori Symptoms. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of methods in psychiatric research · 2026Pooled it
- The rise of hikikomori research: a bibliometric analysis of an emerging global phenomenon.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Pooled it
- A structured support process for social reintegration of a patient with long-term hikikomori: A case report.PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences · 2026Article
- Association Between the Affinity for Hikikomori (Prolonged Social Withdrawal) and Increased Hikikomori Tendencies in University Students.Psychiatry investigation · 2026Article
- Exploring the Cognitive and Behavioral Risks and Maintenance Factors of Hikikomori: Protocol for an Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Hikikomori among young adults: examining the protective function of psychological resilience.BMC psychology · 2026Article
- A Quantitative Text Analysis of the 8050 Problem and Stratified Support in the Japanese Diet.Cureus · 2026Article
- Associations of parental academic achievement pressure, support, and school climate with hikikomori tendency among high school students.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- From narcissistic vulnerability to Hikikomori: depression and online-offline relational discrepancy among South Korean young adults.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Hikikomori Risk in the UK.The International journal of social psychiatry · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
backgroundCurrently, paradoxical findings exist regarding the level of functioning in individuals with Hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal).
aimsThis systematic review aimed to clarify the functioning, disability, and health of individuals with Hikikomori and their families in comparison to those without Hikikomori.
methodRelevant studies were searched from April 22 to 25, 2022, using MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and two Japanese databases. Functions were categorized into 'body functions"; "structure"; and "activity and participation', which were further classified into subcategories.
resultsOf the 8,181 studies screened, 24 studies with 1,769 individuals with Hikikomori were included. Twelve, three, and four indicators from six studies on depression and anxiety, three on addiction, and two on thought problem symptoms, respectively, were higher in the Hikikomori group than in the comparison group, with at least moderate effect sizes. Three indicators from three studies on interpersonal relationships were worse in the Hikikomori group, with at least moderate effect sizes. The meta-analyses showed that internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, and thought disorders were significantly higher in the Hikikomori group than those in the comparison group with moderate-to-high effect sizes. Contrastingly, communication/interpersonal interactions were significantly lower in the Hikikomori group than those in the comparison group. No significant differences were observed in daily life/social life and the families' communication/interpersonal interactions and relationship.
conclusionsThe study limitations include a high risk of bias and heterogeneity. Overall, individuals with Hikikomori often have impaired mental and interpersonal interaction functions; thus, comorbidities of this condition should be carefully assessed. PROSPERO: CRD42022320592.
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