TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - The prevalence and correlates of severe social withdrawal (hikikomori) in Hong Kong: a cross-sectional telephone-based survey study
JO  - International journal of social psychiatry
A1  - Wong, Paul Wc
A1  - Li, Tim Mh
A1  - Chan, Melissa
A1  - Law, Yw
A1  - Chau, Michael
A1  - Cheng, Cecilia
A1  - Fu, Kw
A1  - Bacon-Shone, John
A1  - Yip, Paul Sf
SP  - 330
EP  - 342
VL  - 61
IS  - 4
N2  - BACKGROUND: Severe social withdrawal behaviors among young people have been a subject of public and clinical concerns. AIMS: This study aimed to explore the prevalence of social withdrawal behaviors among young people aged 12-29 years in Hong Kong. <br><br>METHODS: A cross-sectional telephone-based survey was conducted with 1,010 young individuals. Social withdrawal behaviors were measured with the proposed research diagnostic criteria for hikikomori and were categorized according to the (a) international proposed duration criterion (more than 6 months), (b) local proposed criterion (less than 6 months) and (c) with withdrawal behaviors but self-perceived as non-problematic. The correlates of social withdrawal among the three groups were examined using multinomial and ordinal logistic regression analyses. <br><br>RESULTS: The prevalence rates of more than 6 months, less than 6 months and self-perceived non-problematic social withdrawal were 1.9%, 2.5% and 2.6%, respectively. In terms of the correlates, the internationally and locally defined socially withdrawn youths are similar, while the self-perceived non-problematic group is comparable to the comparison group. <br><br>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.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0020-7640
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0020764014543711
ID  - ref1
ER  -