The prevalence and correlates of severe social withdrawal (hikikomori) in Hong Kong: A cross-sectional telephone-based survey study

Conclusions:
The study finds that the prevalence of severe social withdrawal in Hong Kong is comparable to that in Japan. Both groups with withdrawal behaviors for more or less than 6 months share similar characteristics and are related to other contemporary youth issues, for example, compensated dating and self-injury behavior. The self-perceived non-problematic group appears to be a distinct group and the withdrawal behaviors of its members may be discretionary.

Source: International Journal of Social Psychiatry - May 21, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Wong, P. W., Li, T. M., Chan, M., Law, Y., Chau, M., Cheng, C., Fu, K., Bacon-Shone, J., Yip, P. S. Tags: Articles Source Type: research