ORCID
- Alison Bacon: 0000-0003-4279-3814
- Jon May: 0000-0001-7439-9200
Abstract
Background: Hikikomori syndrome involves voluntary withdrawal from social life, school and work, with onset typically in young adulthood. Hikikomori risk has not been examined in the UK, and these studies aimed to validate and refine the Hikikomori Risk Inventory-24 (HRI-24) screening tool in UK young adults. Methods/Results: In Study 1, participants (n = 341) completed the HRI-24. Item analysis and confirmatory factor analysis resulted in a shorter 13-item HRI (HRI-13), which demonstrated a perfect correlation with the full HRI-24. Both the HRI-13 and HRI-24 showed strong convergent and divergent validity, correlating with depression, anxiety, avoidant coping and negative early life factors. Study 2 (n = 228) found a significant positive correlation between HRI-13 scores and modern-type depression, typified by social avoidance and often comorbid with technology-based addictions. Conclusion: Both HRI-13 and HRI-24 effectively capture hikikomori risks related to negative affect and anxiety but may have limitations in identifying risks unrelated to negative affect.
DOI Link
Publication Date
2025-07-05
Publication Title
International Journal of Social Psychiatry
Volume
71
Issue
8
ISSN
0020-7640
Acceptance Date
2025-01-01
Deposit Date
2025-10-22
Additional Links
Keywords
Hikikomori, HRI short, HRI-24, modern type depression, social withdrawal, Reproducibility of Results, Phobia, Social/epidemiology, Humans, Shame, Male, Depression, Psychometrics, Factor Analysis, Statistical, United Kingdom/epidemiology, Young Adult, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Adolescent, Adult, Female, Surveys and Questionnaires, Anxiety/psychology, Adaptation, Psychological
First Page
1621
Last Page
1632
Recommended Citation
Gorman, G., Bacon, A., May, J., & Minton, S. (2025) 'Hikikomori Risk in the UK', International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 71(8), pp. 1621-1632. Available at: 10.1177/00207640251348058
