Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

The Many Faces of Social Withdrawal in Hikikomori

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Well-Being in the Information Society. Fruits of Respect (WIS 2020)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1270))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

This paper discusses socially withdrawn youths’ posts on an internet forum. We explore their situation and ask what challenges are preventing them to participate into society. We use the capability approach as our viewpoint, wanting to pinpoint the youths’ realized capabilities to join in and feel included, as opposed to the opportunity’s society provides them. Problems with mental health, autism spectrum disorders, social anxieties and frustration towards society were identified as reasons for social withdrawal, indicating that the participants do not feel like their skills and persona is appreciated by the society.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. De Freitas, C., Martin, G.: Inclusive public participation in health: policy, practice and theoretical contributions to promote the involvement of marginalized groups in healthcare. Soc. Sci. Med. 135, 31–39 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Corus, C., Saatcioglu, B.: An intersectionality framework for transformative services research. Serv. Ind. J. 35(7–8), 415–429 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Kato, T.A., et al.: Does the ‘hikikomori’ syndrome of social withdrawal exist outside Japan? A preliminary international investigation. Soc. Psychiatry Psychiatric Epidemiol. 47, 1061–1075 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Teo, A.R., Gaw, A.C.: Hikikomori, a Japanese culture-bound syndrome of social withdrawal? A proposal for DSM-5. J. Nerv. Mental Dis. 198, 444–449 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Li, T.M.H., Wong, P.W.C.: Editorial perspective: pathological social withdrawal during adolescence: a culture-specific or a global phenomenon? J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 53(10), 1039–1041 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Valtioneuvosto: Koulutuksen ja työn ulkopuolella olevat (NEET) nuoret, katsaus tilanteeseen ja toimenpiteisiin (2019). https://valtioneuvosto.fi/documents/1410845/4449678/Koulutuksen+ja+ty%C3%B6n+ulkopuolella+olevat+%28NEET%29+nuoret%2C+katsaus+tilanteeseen+ja+toimenpiteisiin/51231944-1fc0-ef0b-fc7a-afc6c975b010/Koulutuksen+ja+ty%C3%B6n+ulkopuolella+olevat+%28NEET%29+nuoret%2C+katsaus+tilanteeseen+ja+toimenpiteisiin.pdf. Accessed 9 April 2020

  7. Aaltonen, S., Kivijärvi, A., Myllylä, M.: Työn ja koulutuksen ulkopuolella olevien nuorten aikuisten koettu hyvinvointi. Yhteiskuntapolitiikka. 84(3), 301–311 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Fox, C., Jalonen, H., Baines, S., Bassi, A., Moretti, V., Willoughby, M.: Co-creation of Service Innovations in Europe (CoSIE) – White Paper. Reports from Turku University of Applied Sciences, p. 259 (2019). https://storage.googleapis.com/turku-amk/2019/06/cosie_whitepaper_2019.pdf. Accessed 18 Feb 2020

  9. Bowker, J., Rubin, K., Coplan, R.: Social Withdrawal. Encyclopaedia of Adolescence (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Husu, H.-M., Välimäki, V.: Staying inside: social withdrawal of the young, Finnish ‘Hikikomori’. J. Youth Stud. 20(5), 605–621 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Peruzzi, A.: Understanding social exclusion from a longitudinal perspective: a capability-based approach. J. Hum. Dev. Capabilities 15(4), 335–354 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Välimäki, V., Kivijärvi, A., Aaltonen, S.: The links between structural and social marginalisation – social relations of young Finnish adults not in employment or education. J. Youth Stud. 6(1), 93–117 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Dieckhoff, M., Gash, V.: Unemployment and social participation. Int. J. Sociol. Soc. Pol. 35(1, 2), 67 − 90 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Segrin, C., Nevárez, N., Arroyo, A., Harwood, J.: Family of origin environment and adolescent bullying predict young adult loneliness. J. Psychol. 146, 119–134 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Li, T.M.H., Wong, P.W.C.: Youth social withdrawal behavior (hikikomori): a systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies. Australian and New Zealand J. Psychiatry. 49, 595–609 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Pozza, A., Coluccia, A., Kato, T., Gaetani, M., Ferretti, F.: The ‘Hikikomori’ syndrome: worldwide prevalence and co-occurring major psychiatric disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. BMJ Open (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Sen, A.: The living standard. Oxford Econ. Papers 36, 74–90 (1984)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Sen, A.: Rights and capabilities. Resources, Values and Development. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA (1984b)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Sen, A.: Commodities and Capabilities. North Holland, Amsterdam (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Walker, C.: Amartya sen’s capability approach and education. Educ. Act. Res. 13(1), 103–110 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Sen, A.: Social Exclusion: Concept, Application, and Scrutiny. Social. Development Papers No. 1, Asian Development Bank (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Navarro, V.: Development and quality of life: a critique of amartya sen’s development as freedom. Int. J. Health Serv. 30(4), 661–674 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Salais, R.O., Villeneuve, R.: Introduction: Europe and the politics of capabilities. In: Salais, R., Villeneuve, R. (eds.) Europe and the Politics of Capabilities, pp. 1–18. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Robeyns, I.: The capability approach: a theoretical survey. J. Hum. Dev. 6(1), 93–114 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Robeyns, I.: The capability approach in practice. J. Political Philosophy 14(3), 351–376 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Alkire, S.: Why the capability approach? J. Hum. Dev. 6(1), 115 − 135 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Hick, R.: The capability approach: insight for a new poverty focus. J. Soc. Policy (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Burchardt, T., Vizard, P.: ‘Operationalizing’ the capability approach as a basis for equality and human rights monitoring in twenty-first-century britain. J. Hum. Dev. Capabilities 12(1), 91–119 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Haasio, A.: Toiseus, tiedontarpeet ja tiedon jakaminen tietoverkon ‘pienessä maailmassa’: Tutkimus sosiaalisesti vetäytyneiden henkilöiden informaatiokäyttäytymisestä. Tampere University Press, Tampere (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Haasio, A.: Hikikomorit. Avain, Helsinki (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Haasio, A., Naka, H.: An analysis of information shared on hikikomoris discussion forums. Qual. Quantitative Mehods Libraries (QQML) 8(4), 509–523 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Sen, A.: Capabilities, lists, and public reason: continuing the conversation. Feminist Econ. 10(3), 77–80 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Heinrich, L.M., Gullone, E.: The clinical significance of loneliness: A literature review. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 26, 695–718 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Vanhalst, J., Klimstra, T.A., Luyckx, K., Scholte, R.H., Engels, R.C., Goossens, L.: The interplay of loneliness and depressive symptoms across adolescence: exploring the role of personality traits. J. Youth Adolescence 41, 776–787 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Spithoven, A.W., Lodder, G.M., Goossens, L., et al.: Adolescents’ loneliness and depression associated with friendship experiences and well-being: a person-centered approach. J. Youth Adolescence 46(2), 429–441 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Bauminger, N., Shulman, C., Agam, G.: Peer interaction and loneliness in high-functioning children with autism. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 33, 489–507 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Scott, M., et al.: Factors impacting employment for people with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review. Autism 23(4), 869–901 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edn. American Psychiatric Association, Arlington (2013)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  39. Myles, B.S., Simpson, R.L.: Asperger syndrome: an overview of characteristics. Focus Autism Other Dev. Disabilities. 17(3), 132–137 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Stichter, J.P., Herzog, M.J., Visovsky, K., et al. Social competence intervention for youth with asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism: an initial investigation. J. Autism Dev. Disorders. 40, 1067–1079 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Orth, U., Robins, R.W., Roberts, B.W.: Low self-esteem prospectively predicts depression in adolescence and young adulthood. J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 95(3), 695–708 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Aaltonen, S., Berg., P., Ikäheimo, S.: Nuoret luukulla. Kolme näkökulma syrjäytymiseen ja nuorten asemaan palvelujärjestelmässä. Nuorisotutkimusverkosto/Nuorisotutkimusseura. Verkkojulkaisuja 84 (2015). http://www.nuorisotutkimusseura.fi/images/julkaisuja/nuoretluukulla.pdf. Accessed 1 June 2020

  43. Sandelin, I.: Kuntouttava työtoiminta asiakkaiden kokemana. Kirjallisuuskatsaus asiakkaiden toiminnalle antamista merkityksistä. Terveyden ja Hyvinvoinnin Laitos työpaperi 8/2014. Tampere: Suomen Yliopistopaino Oy, (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Convery, I., Cox, D.: A review of research ethics in internet-based research. Practitioner Res. Higher Educ. 6(1), 50–57 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Turku University of Applied Science, Turku, Finland

    Hanna Kirjavainen

  2. University of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland

    Harri Jalonen

Authors
  1. Hanna Kirjavainen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Harri Jalonen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hanna Kirjavainen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Catholic University of Applied Sciences, Freiburg, Germany

    Mirella Cacace

  2. University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Raija Halonen

  3. Tampere University, Tampere, Finland

    Hongxiu Li

  4. Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland

    Thao Phuong Orrensalo

  5. University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Chenglong Li

  6. Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland

    Gunilla Widén

  7. University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Reima Suomi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Kirjavainen, H., Jalonen, H. (2020). The Many Faces of Social Withdrawal in Hikikomori. In: Cacace, M., et al. Well-Being in the Information Society. Fruits of Respect. WIS 2020. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1270. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57847-3_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57847-3_11

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-57846-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-57847-3

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics