Chaos and confusion in Hikikomori research : commentary on “The suitability of outing frequency as a definition of hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal)”

Amendola, Simone

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1199359

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-29241

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Editorial review
Title:	Chaos and confusion in Hikikomori research : commentary on “The suitability of outing frequency as a definition of hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal)”
Authors:	Amendola, Simone
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1199359 10.21256/zhaw-29241
Published in:	Frontiers in Psychiatry
Volume(Issue):	14
Issue:	1199359
Issue Date:	17-May-2023
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Frontiers Research Foundation
ISSN:	1664-0640
Language:	English
Subjects:	Hikikomori; Social withdrawal; Interpersonal interaction; Definition; Kommentar
Subject (DDC):	616.89: Mental disorders, clinical psychology and psychiatry
Abstract:	The recent article of Nonaka and Sakai entitled “The suitability of outing frequency as a definition of hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal),” published in Frontiers in Psychiatry (Section of Psychopathology) represents a significant analysis of the usefulness of outing frequency for the definition of hikikomori. Previously published data were used for a secondary analysis focused on the number of days individuals went out per week and qualitative indicators of outings as indicated by going to places that require or do not require interpersonal interactions. The definition of hikikomori (a condition characterized by a lack of social participation, which includes working, attending school, socializing outside one’s home, and staying at home on most days except for solitary outings for over 6 months) of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare was partially used. Of participants who reported being in a hikikomori condition, 28%–48% went out less than 1 day/week while 14%–21% went out 4 or more days/week. Correlation analyses found that, in hikikomori, outing frequency was positively associated with both going to places that require and do not require interpersonal interactions, whereas it was not associated with subjective social impairment. Furthermore, regression analyses indicated that low (less than 1 day/week) and medium (1–4 days/week) frequencies of outings compared with high (4 or more days/week) and subjective social impairment, decreased the probability of being in the control or recovered group compared with the hikikomori group. Conversely, going to places that require interpersonal interactions increased the probability of being in the control or recovered group compared with the hikikomori group. These results were consistent with the definition of hikikomori used, whereas going out freely and going to places that do not require interpersonal interactions showed no significant effect. Finally, the authors found that an outing frequency of 4.5/5 days/week was able to discriminate between the hikikomori and control groups.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/29241
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International
Departement:	Applied Psychology
Organisational Unit:	Psychological Institute (PI)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Angewandte Psychologie

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Amendola, S. (2023). Chaos and confusion in Hikikomori research : commentary on “The suitability of outing frequency as a definition of hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal)”. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14(1199359). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1199359

Amendola, S. (2023) ‘Chaos and confusion in Hikikomori research : commentary on “The suitability of outing frequency as a definition of hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal)”’, Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14(1199359). Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1199359.

S. Amendola, “Chaos and confusion in Hikikomori research : commentary on “The suitability of outing frequency as a definition of hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal)”,” Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 14, no. 1199359, May 2023, doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1199359.

AMENDOLA, Simone, 2023. Chaos and confusion in Hikikomori research : commentary on “The suitability of outing frequency as a definition of hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal)”. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 17 Mai 2023. Bd. 14, Nr. 1199359. DOI 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1199359

Amendola, Simone. 2023. “Chaos and Confusion in Hikikomori Research : Commentary on “The Suitability of Outing Frequency as a Definition of Hikikomori (Prolonged Social Withdrawal)”.” Frontiers in Psychiatry 14 (1199359). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1199359.

Amendola, Simone. “Chaos and Confusion in Hikikomori Research : Commentary on “The Suitability of Outing Frequency as a Definition of Hikikomori (Prolonged Social Withdrawal)”.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 14, no. 1199359, May 2023, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1199359.