The impact of higher levels of autistic traits on risk of hikikomori (pathological social withdrawal) in young adults.

This study looked at 646 young people (ages 16-24) to understand extreme social withdrawal, called hikikomori. Researchers found that young people with more autistic traits were at higher risk of withdrawing from society, especially if they had poor mental health or stayed home more during COVID-19 lockdowns. The study suggests that autistic traits may make young people more vulnerable to becoming socially isolated.

This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between autistic traits and hikikomori (extreme social withdrawal) risk in 646 young adults aged 16-24 across multiple countries. Researchers found that autistic traits mediated the relationship between psychological wellbeing and hikikomori risk, as well as between lockdown experiences (frequency of leaving home) and hikikomori risk. Young adults with higher autistic traits, poorer psychological wellbeing, and who left home less frequently during COVID-19 restrictions showed greater risk for hikikomori. The findings suggest that autistic traits may be an important mediating factor in social withdrawal patterns, particularly during periods of restricted social contact like pandemic lockdowns.

Young adults with autistic traits may need targeted support to prevent social withdrawal, particularly during periods of social restriction. Mental health interventions should consider autistic traits as a mediating factor. Clinicians should monitor for hikikomori risk in autistic individuals with poor psychological wellbeing.

This was a cross-sectional study, limiting causal inferences. The study relied on self-reported measures and online questionnaires. Sample characteristics and demographic details are not fully described in the abstract, and the study design specifics are unclear.

Hikikomori is an extreme state of social withdrawal, originally identified in Japan but more recently recognised internationally. Many countries imposed restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic which may have had a detrimental impact on those at risk of hikikomori, specifically young adults and those with high levels of autistic traits. To explore whether levels of autistic traits mediate the relationship between psychological wellbeing and hikikomori risk. We also looked at whether autistic traits mediated between lockdown experiences (e.g. not leaving the house) and hikikomori risk. 646 young people (aged 16-24) from a wide range of countries completed an online questionnaire assessing psychological wellbeing, autistic traits and experiences of lockdown for this cross-sectional study.

Autistic traits mediated the relationship between both psychological wellbeing and hikikomori risk, as well as frequency of leaving the house during lockdown and hikikomori risk. Greater hikikomori risk was associated with poor psychological wellbeing, higher autistic traits and leaving the house less frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings suggest similarities with Japanese hikikomori research and are consistent with suggestions that psychological wellbeing and COVID-19 restrictions are associated with increased hikikomori risk in young adults, and both associations are mediated by higher levels of autistic traits.