A review of prolonged social withdrawal behaviour (a.k.a. Hikikomori) As one of the emerging youth issues across diverse contexts

Youth (dis)engagement in various aspects has become an important issue in many high-income and aging-population countries. In particular, the growing group of young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) has become a great concern. Prolonged periods of socio-political-educational disengagement can lead to marginalization, dependence, loneliness, powerlessness, increased use of drugs and criminal activity, homelessness, and social-political-civil apathy and distrust of authorities and governments. Pathological social withdrawal refers to long-term social withdrawal/disengagement and self-exclusion for over six months – including non-attendance at school or work, and with minimal contact with friends, family and society – in the absence of other psychiatric diagnoses. This is possibly the worst condition of NEET and has raised serious concerns around the world after COVID-19. Although first classified as a culturally specific condition within Japan (termed hikikomori) because of Japan’s nobility of solitude and major structural changes in the last 1980s, similar cases have been recently identified in other Asian settings (Hong Kong, South Korea), some low-middle-income countries (Bangladesh, India, Iran, Thailand), and Western countries (Australia, UK, US). The aim of this presentation is to provide a review of the literature on its existing explanatory frameworks, prevalence rates among various countries, identified contributing factors, empirical-supported interventions, and potential preventive progammes