Summary: Researchers examine the sociocultural mental health phenomenon known as hikikomori, in which people withdraw from society and remain isolated for extended periods.
Source: The Conversation
Brief periods of withdrawal from daily life are common and can be healthy. Short breaks from social demands can reduce acute stress, aid recovery from illness and exhaustion, and support developmental transitions such as identity formation in adolescence.
However, some individuals do not return from these episodes of solitude. Instead, they develop extreme, persistent social withdrawal that can last for years or even decades, causing substantial distress to themselves and their families. In Japan this pattern is widely recognized and commonly called hikikomori.
The phenomenon drew public and clinical attention in Japan during the 1990s, a time of prolonged economic stagnation that left many young people unable to reach career and life goals. For some, the shame associated with these setbacks led them to retreat from social life; for others, withdrawal became ongoing. The term hikikomori—formed from the verbs hiki (“to withdraw”) and komori (“to be inside”)—was introduced in 1998 by psychiatrist Tamaki Saito to describe young people who experienced severe social withdrawal but did not neatly fit existing psychiatric diagnoses.
Today hikikomori is typically described as a sociocultural mental health phenomenon rather than a single psychiatric disorder. Estimates suggest at least 1.2% of the population are affected, a prevalence that represents a major social and public health concern. Reports of prolonged, self-imposed isolation have emerged in countries beyond Japan, and the term is now used internationally to describe similar patterns of persistent withdrawal.
Several core features define hikikomori: the person remains physically confined to their home for six months or longer, has minimal meaningful social relationships, and experiences significant distress and functional impairment. This impairment can include avoiding tasks that require interaction with others or even neglecting basic self-care. Along with physical seclusion, people with hikikomori show profound psychological detachment from social life. Situations where active social engagement is expected—such as school or work—become intolerable, and the individual remains disconnected whether inside or outside the home.
Some people identified as hikikomori, sometimes referred to as soto-komori, leave the house occasionally but still avoid social contact. Others turn to the internet as a way to observe the world without participating, using online gaming or social media to maintain a distant, passive relationship with society.
Shame and trauma
Across cultures, experiences of shame, defeat, or humiliation—such as failing important exams or missing out on a coveted job—are commonly reported triggers for prolonged withdrawal. Cultural pressures that emphasize conformity and a fear of social shame may increase vulnerability in some societies. Many people who withdraw do so in part to avoid repeated humiliation and the expectation to follow a socially prescribed path.
Research on hikikomori communities in France and elsewhere shows that, although many people in this state want society to forget them, they cannot fully disengage from the world they left. Instead they passively observe life through digital platforms, a condition some experts describe as a form of “social death.” Clinicians and researchers are exploring overlaps between hikikomori and other conditions such as autism spectrum differences, depression, social anxiety and agoraphobia, but hikikomori remains best understood as a complex sociocultural phenomenon with diverse contributors.
The costs of prolonged isolation extend beyond the individual. Families typically assume long-term caregiving responsibilities, often providing food, shelter and daily support for years. In Japan, parents frequently shoulder these duties, and because basic needs are met at home there are few immediate pressures that drive the person to seek help. Health, education and social services tend to prioritize more visible or crisis-driven problems, leaving families feeling isolated and unsure where to turn.
As awareness of hikikomori grows internationally, reported prevalence may rise and the need for effective responses will become more pressing. Current approaches to treatment focus on rebuilding social functioning and daily routines through gradual re-engagement with activity, structured physical exercise, and stepwise return to work or education. Family-based therapies are being evaluated to support both the person and their caregivers. Recovery can also involve helping people find socially acceptable ways to express talents and skills—creative pursuits and community engagement have helped some individuals reconnect with life outside isolation.
The very nature of hikikomori makes help-seeking unlikely. The COVID-19 pandemic and its social changes may further complicate detection and recovery: widespread remote work, online socializing and fears related to infection, job loss and lockdowns expose more people to extended isolation and may increase risk for persistent withdrawal. Young people who feel hopeless about their future or ashamed of setbacks may be especially vulnerable.
It is important for clinicians, educators, policymakers and communities to recognize the risk of increased severe social withdrawal and to expand access to services that keep people connected. Proactive outreach, tailored therapeutic strategies and family-inclusive support can reduce isolation and help those affected reestablish meaningful roles in society.
Funding:
Hamish J. McLeod has received funding for work on hikikomori from The Sasakawa Foundation.
Tadaaki Furuhashi receives funding from Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) in Japan.
Maki Rooksby does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
About this psychology research news
Source: The Conversation
Contact: Hamish J. McLeod, Tadaaki Furuhashi, Maki Rooksby – The Conversation
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