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Youths who are socially isolated are largely inaccessible to social work professionals; nevertheless, most are active on social media. Feeling they have been let down by society, many such youths seek comfort in imageboards, where the idea of being anti-social is cherished and where even extremism and hate speech is tolerated. This study relies on a thematic analysis of 323 imageboard messages to identify the challenges socially withdrawn youths perceive as excluding them from society. We use the capability approach as our viewpoint, emphasizing the youths' actual capabilities to join in, as opposed to the opportunities seemingly provided by society. Our results resonate with the earlier research: Many members of the group labeled 'withdrawn youth' suffer from neuropsychological and mental health problems, fear social situations, experience a sense of shame and failure, and harbor bitterness toward society. They consider issues including unsuitable services, the onerous demands imposed by working life, and the hard values prevalent in society to restrict their opportunities to participate in that society and undermine their self-respect. Fear and negative experiences prevent socially withdrawn people from approaching social workers. Accordingly, we recommend social services keep an open mind on using digital options to reach people beyond the conventional service system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of peer relationship and social withdrawal on the relationship between self-esteem and multi-cultural acceptance of multicultural adolescents participating in physical activity. 192 multicultural adolescents were selected as research participants. First, the results suggest that self-esteem and peer relationships positively affect multicultural acceptance but social withdrawal does not affect multicultural acceptance in multi-cultural youth participating in PE activities. Second, the results show that self-esteem positively affects peer relationships and negatively affects social withdrawal in multicultural youth. Lastly, the results on the effects of multiple mediation of peer relationships and social withdrawal in the relationship between self-esteem and multicultural acceptance showed that only peer relationships had a mediating effect. In conclusion, the role of peer relationship between self-esteem and multicultural acceptance is important, and a variety of physical activity programs for multicultural youth should be developed in order to form a friendly relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study analysed the factors affecting the developmental trajectories of social withdrawal during adolescence. From an ecological human development perspective, we specifically assessed the role of negative parental child-rearing attitudes and positive peer relationships on social withdrawal. First, the findings showed that negative parental child-rearing attitudes promote social withdrawal and that amicable peer relationships help decrease social withdrawal. Second, factors influencing the developmental trajectories of social withdrawal were initial value and the rate of change for peer relationships. In other words, initial value and rate of change for peer relationships significantly reduced the developmental trajectories of social withdrawal in the long term. Third, negative parental child-rearing attitudes did not have a significant influence on the developmental trajectories of social withdrawal. We discuss how important relationship factors affect the developmental trajectory of social competence during adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No studies have compared relationships between specific social functioning deficits and cognitive disengagement syndrome/CDS (formerly sluggish cognitive tempo) in autism, ADHD, and general population child samples. Mothers rated 1177 children with autism, 725 with ADHD-Combined, and 307 with ADHD-Inattentive (4–17 years) and 665 elementary school children (6–12 years) on the Pediatric Behavior Scale. In all four groups, children with CDS had significantly greater frequencies of rejection by peers than children without CDS, and in the three clinical groups, withdrawn/shy behavior was significantly more prevalent in children with CDS. Low prosocial behavior did not differ between children with and without CDS. CDS contributed significantly and independently to predicting withdrawn/shy behavior and peer rejection, although its contribution was small compared with some other psychological problems. Overall, autism symptoms were the most powerful predictors of withdrawn/shy behavior and peer rejection. CDS studies sometimes control for ADHD and other psychopathology in multivariate analyses, but autism is usually overlooked. This is a critical oversight because CDS is as common in autism as in ADHD and because social problems, autism symptoms, and CDS are significantly interrelated. • Data analyzed for 2874 children in autism, ADHD, and elementary school samples. • Withdrawn/shy behavior and peer rejection greater in children with than without CDS. • Low prosocial behavior did not differ between children with and without CDS. • Autism and anxiety symptoms were the strongest predictors of withdrawn/shy behavior. • Autism and depression symptoms were the strongest predictors of rejection by peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims University students that suffer from mental disorders seem to have difficulty graduating. Therefore, we investigated risk and protective factors of dropping out with the aim of improving such students’ academic outcomes. Methods First, we statistically compared the academic outcomes of 203 undergraduate students who received treatment in the Department of Psychiatry of the Tsukuba University Health Center to those of matched controls. Second, clinical factors of 370 mentally ill students were statistically compared between the dropout and graduate groups. Results Mentally ill students experienced significantly greater difficulties graduating. Furthermore, the ratio of females and the year of study at initial consultation were significantly lower in the dropout group. However, duration of illness, social withdrawal, temporary leaves of absence, percentage of diagnosis of F2, history of truancy, CGI-S/GI score, number of suicide attempts, visits to us, family consultations with us and grade repeating were longer or greater in the dropout group. Ultimately, the number of suicide attempts, CGI-S score, social withdrawal and leaves of absence were significantly associated with dropping out. Moreover, duration of social withdrawal and leaves of absence were significantly correlated with CGI-GI score. Conclusion We found that the number of suicide attempts, CGI-S score, social withdrawal and extended enrollment were risk factors for dropping out, while the therapeutic effect seemed to be a protective factor. As risk factors involved states of social maladjustment, it is necessary not only to treat mental disorders, but also to provide assistance such as educational and individual support for daily living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schizophrenia (SZ) is categorized as neuropsychiatric disorder with reduced lifespan and significant impairments in social and vocational functioning. One of the best proposed pharmacological animal models is dizocilpine, as it can mimic the full spectrum of schizophrenic disorder including positive and negative symptoms along with cognitive deficits. Dizocilpine is N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist known to induce hyperlocomotion and stereotyped behavior in rodents. Present study was designed to develop an animal model of SZ via intraperitoneal administration of dizocilpine in rats (100-150g) at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg for eight days. For the evaluation of positive symptoms, hyperlocomotor behavior was monitored. Negative symptoms were assessed by sucrose preference test (SPT) and social interaction test (SIT). Moreover, Cognitive deficits were evaluated by novel object recognition test (NORT). After behavioral assessments animals were decapitated for further evaluation of biochemical and neurochemical estimations. Present findings revealed that dizocilpine injected rats exhibited significant hyperlocomotor behavior, depressive symptoms and cognitive deficits. Results are further strengthened with a marked increase in lipid per oxidation (LPO) in brain and a decline in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. Biogenic amine levels (Dopamine, DA; 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) were also significantly increased and decreased respectively. Thus, present findings suggest that dizocilpine can be used as one of the best drug to develop psychosis-like symptoms in rats and to develop an animal model following a short-term study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social withdrawal in children is a risk factor for maladjustment. The Revised Class Play (RCP; Masten, Morison, & Pelligrini, 1985) has often been used to identify children's behavioral difficulties with peers. However, in previous studies the sensitive-isolated scale of the RCP appeared to measure a mixture of different types of withdrawal, including withdrawal from peers and exclusion by peers. In the present study the original RCP was modified to more clearly distinguish withdrawal from the peer group from behavior associated with exclusion by peers. Two studies in Dutch samples of 8-13-year-old children were conducted to examine the reliability and validity of this modified Revised Class Play. Both studies revealed three scales: Sociability-Leadership, Aggressive-Disruptive, and a third factor labeled Anxious-Withdrawn. Anxious-Withdrawn primarily reflected social reticence. Stability of the scales after two years was high. High scores on the Anxious-Withdrawn scale were best predicted by teacher ratings of timid and anxious behavior and by negative self-perceptions of social competence. The results support the reliability and validity of the modified RCP in a Dutch sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If individuals do not have good peer social relationships, they will not only fail to benefit from social groups, but will have more solitary behaviors due to being excluded and rejected. And the withdrawal of choosing to be alone will induce further social exclusion. However, previous studies on social exclusion and social withdrawal have focused on children, college students, and adults, and few studies have explored adolescents as subjects. There is evidence that problematic peer relationship experiences (e.g., rejection, exclusion) are indeed a cause and consequence of social withdrawal in adolescents, and fortunately, interventions that connect people to nature may lead to many positive changes in multiple domains of functioning, such as indirect exposure to the natural environment can moderate the negative effects of an individual's exclusion. Therefore, to test the causal relationship between social exclusion and adolescent social withdrawal behavior and the effect of natural associations on adolescent social withdrawal behavior, we found through three studies that social exclusion significantly affected adolescent social withdrawal behavior, connectedness of nature, i.e., simply viewing nature pictures, significantly diminishes the effect of social exclusion on adolescents' social withdrawal behavior. Taken together, these findings underscore the importance of natural associations in influencing social withdrawal after exclusion. • Social exclusion and adolescent withdrawal behavior were positively correlated. • Adolescents in the social exclusion group showed more withdrawal behaviors. • Viewing nature pictures moderates the above relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between social withdrawal (isolation and unsociability) and peer victimization by exploring the moderating influences of gender, classroom norms of social withdrawal, individualism, and collectivism. One hundred fifty-eight adolescents (Mage = 14.11, SD = 1.10; 46.3% boys) in 7th and 8th grade from Curitiba, Brazil, completed peer assessments of isolation, unsociability, peer victimization, and self-reports of classroom individualism and collectivism. Isolation and unsociability were aggregated into classroom norms. Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling. Isolation and unsociability positively predicted victimization. Unsociability was a positive predictor of victimization in low-unsociability classrooms. Isolation was negatively associated with victimization in low-isolation classes. The relationship between isolation and victimization was weaker in more collectivistic classes. The relationship between unsociability and peer victimization was strongest among boys in classes low in individualism. This study provides further support that social withdrawal has consequences for adolescents' socio-emotional development which vary by classroom context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the socio-emotional characteristics and school adjustment of shy/socially withdrawn youth and examined the properties of the Extended Class Play (ECP), a common peer measure of shyness/withdrawal and other social behaviour with Russian early adolescents (n = 106; mean age 12.5). Associations between the ECP scores and teacher- and self-reports of adjustment (e.g. internalising problems) provided evidence supporting use of the ECP with Russian adolescents. Similar to North American studies, results also indicated that shy/socially withdrawn Russian youth tended to be more excluded, report greater internalising problems and were also more asocial than a comparison group. No differences were found between shy/socially withdrawn and non-withdrawn adolescents in victimisation/exclusion and academic performance. The discussion emphasises the need for further examination of potential role of teacher-directed social interactions and classroom norms across the cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Patients with vascular dementia (VaD) are often isolated, withdrawn from society because of negative symptoms and functional disabilities. The aim of this study was to detect factors associated with social withdrawal in patients with VaD. The participants were 36 institutionalized patients with VaD. Social withdrawal was assessed with the social withdrawal of the Multidimensional Observation Scale for Elderly Subjects (MOSES). Possible explanatory variables were the MOSES items depression and self-care, Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI), apathy evaluation scale (AES), and Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Frequency Weighted Severity Scale (BEHAVE-ADFW). Multiple regression analyses were conducted for two groups:Analysis 1 was performed in all patients (N= 36) and Analysis 2 was performed in the patients with the ability to move by themselves (i.e., independent walking or independent movement with a cane or a wheelchair; n 28). In Analysis 1, MOSES item social withdrawal was correlated with AES and MOSES item self-care. In Analysis 2, MOSES item social withdrawal was correlated with AES and CASI domain abstraction and judgment. Decreased social activities of VaD were not related to general cognitive function or depression. Disturbed activities of daily living (ADLs) for self-care may involve decreased frontal lobe function, indicating that comprehensive rehabilitation for both ADL and dementia are needed to improve the social activities of patients with VaD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study developed a Japanese version of the Child Social Preference Scale, which measures children's social withdrawal. In addition, we examined developmental changes of children's withdrawal and the relationships between withdrawal and problematic behaviors. The participants were 7 012 mothers of preschool, elementary school, and middle school children. A factor analysis revealed a two-factor solution of shyness and social disinterest, which is consistent with previous studies. Shyness decreased as children's grade level increased. Social disinterest changed in a quadratic manner. The shyness score was lowest in the lower grades of elementary school. Shyness was related to more emotional symptoms, more peer relationship problems, and less prosocial behavior. Social disinterest was related to peer relationship problems. The importance of the distinction between shyness and social disinterest is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Genetic variation of the A118G polymorphism of the μ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) predicts individual sensitivity to social rejection and fMRI activation during simulated social rejection in adults, while data on these relationships during childhood are lacking. We investigated whether this polymorphism predicts childhood withdrawal – a predictor of sensitivity to social rejection –, and the face-specific N170 event-related waveform in response to facial expressions. Among facial expressions, ‘anger’ was expected to be particularly evocative, as it communicates social rejection. Forty-nine children aged 8–10 years were characterised for their OPRM1 genotype, their score at the Withdrawn Scale of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and for N170 latencies and amplitudes recorded during a task of implicit processing of happy, neutral, and angry expressions of other children. Children carrying the OPRM1-G allele had higher CBCL Withdrawn scores and enhanced N170 amplitudes in response to facial expressions. Multiple linear regressions showed that the Withdrawn scale score predicts larger N170 amplitudes at the Pz and C4 electrodes, only for the anger expression. Children who carry one or two copies of the OPRM1 G-allele are more likely to manifest withdrawn behaviours, and differ for electrophysiological responses to the early phases of processing affective stimuli. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This longitudinal study spanning 18years examined the role of social strategies in early career adaptation. The aim was to find out whether individuals'' social strategies measured during their university studies had an impact on work burnout and work engagement measured 10–18years later. A sample of 292 university students completed the SAQ questionnaire three times while at university and the work burnout inventory three times and the work engagement inventory twice during their early career. According to the results, the higher the initial level of social optimism and the more it increased during university studies, and the lower the initial levels of social withdrawal and social handicapping and the more they decreased, the lower was the level of work burnout and the higher the level of work engagement in the early career. The effects of the level of social strategies were stronger on the professional efficacy subscale of burnout. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study examined the determinants of social withdrawal using data from a survey by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office for Youth Affairs and Public Safety (2008). In addition, this study identified young people who showed an affinity for social withdrawal although they were not in a state of withdrawal, and examined the determinants of an affinity for social withdrawal. The results of stepwise discriminant analysis showed that factors such as social phobia, depression, violence, and emotional bonds with family differentiated between the general youth group and the social withdrawal group and the "affinity group". Social phobia, violence, and refusal to be interfered in self-decision making differentiated between the social withdrawal group and the "affinity group". This study shows that an "affinity group" should be cared as well as an actual withdrawal group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Hikikomori is a form of severe social withdrawal that is particularly prevalent in Japan. Social media posts offer insight into public perceptions of mental health conditions and may also inform strategies to identify, engage, and support hard-to-reach patient populations such as individuals affected by hikikomori.Objective: In this study, we seek to identify the types of content on Twitter related to hikikomori in the Japanese language and to assess Twitter users' engagement with that content.Methods: We conducted a mixed methods analysis of a random sample of 4940 Japanese tweets from February to August 2018 using a hashtag (#hikikomori). Qualitative content analysis included examination of the text of each tweet, development of a codebook, and categorization of tweets into relevant codes. For quantitative analysis (n=4859 tweets), we used bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models, adjusted for multiple comparisons, and estimated the predicted probabilities of tweets receiving engagement (likes or retweets).Results: Our content analysis identified 9 codes relevant to tweets about hikikomori: personal anecdotes, social support, marketing, advice, stigma, educational opportunities, refuge (ibasho), employment opportunities, and medicine and science. Tweets about personal anecdotes were the most common (present in 2747/4859, 56.53% of the tweets), followed by social support (902/4859, 18.56%) and marketing (624/4859, 12.84%). In the adjusted models, tweets coded as stigma had a lower predicted probability of likes (-33 percentage points, 95% CI -42 to -23 percentage points; P<.001) and retweets (-11 percentage points, 95% CI -18 to -4 percentage points; P<.001), personal anecdotes had a lower predicted probability of retweets (-8 percentage points, 95% CI -14 to -3 percentage points; P=.002), marketing had a lower predicted probability of likes (-13 percentage points, 95% CI -21 to -6 percentage points; P<.001), and social support had a higher predicted probability of retweets (+15 percentage points, 95% CI 6-24 percentage points; P=.001), compared with all tweets without each of these codes.Conclusions: Japanese tweets about hikikomori reflect a unique array of topics, many of which have not been identified in prior research and vary in their likelihood of receiving engagement. Tweets often contain personal stories of hikikomori, suggesting the potential to identify individuals with hikikomori through Twitter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1990s, Hikikomori (social withdrawal) has become a social problem in Japan. Hikikomori implies that the young people withdraw from most social activities. Moreover, most of them have extremely negative self-identities to the extent that they often retreat into their houses or rooms to avoid meeting other people. Subsequently, one of the goals of support institutions dealing with this problem is to change these young people's self-identities into positive ones. First, this article argues the social conditions involved in changing the users' identities on the basis of participant observations and interviews in an institution. In particular, the interaction rituals that are always used by the staff and the users in their daily lives have been examined as important conditions involved in changing the users' identities. According to Goffman (1967), I describe two rituals, referential avoidance and invitation to join collective activities, practiced particularly in such institutions. These rituals enable the users to ease their anxiety concerning human relationships and gradually speak about themselves to each other. The rituals provide such conditions that enable the users to alter their self-image regarding sociability as well as provide opportunities that help the users reconstruct their self-narratives. Subsequently, I examine the negative effects of these interaction rituals. Highly developed rituals in such institutions paradoxically prevent the users from completely rewriting their self-narratives. Self-narratives obtain their realities from the acceptance given by "others." However, the stringent rules of these rituals deprive the users of "otherness." Furthermore, being conscious of rituals that facilitate inner development makes the users fear that they will inevitably lose face in society. Consequently, they hesitate in approaching society, and as a result, they maintain their simple and negative image regarding society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This longitudinal study examined the relation between housing quality and psychological distress among a group of low-income women relocating from inadequate to newly constructed homes. Social withdrawal was examined as a potential underlying process to account for the predicted association between housing and psychological distress. Significant improvements occurred from pre-move to post-move in all variables measured including housing quality, psychological distress, and social withdrawal. Longitudinal results indicated that changes in housing quality predict post-move psychological distress, after controlling for pre-move psychological distress. Social withdrawal was found to mediate the relation between housing quality and mental health. Additional analyses suggest that improvement in psychological distress from improved housing was largely due to one subcomponent of housing quality—crowding. The implications of this finding for theory and policy are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hikikomori, a form of acute social withdrawal, is becoming a silent epidemic in Japan. As it has not been reported from other parts of the world, hikikomori fulfills the criteria for "a culture-bound syndrome." We report a case from Oman, in the southern part of Arabia, with all the essential features of hikikomori. We speculate that the social environment of Japanese and Omani society could reinforce behavior akin to hikikomori although this condition may also transcend geography and ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although several surveys have suggested that socioeconomic factors function as background variables for the incidence of hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal), no research has directly examined whether socioeconomic indicators increase the incidence of hikikomori. This study aimed to examine the relationship between socioeconomic factors and the incidence of hikikomori using data from eight cross-sectional studies conducted by our group between 2010 and 2019. We used socio-economic data from national surveys and collected the demographic data of members of a multi-branch Japanese association for family members of hikikomori patients for the period of 2010–2019. The results of the partial correlation analysis showed that the incidence probability of hikikomori increased in tandem with unemployment rates and household income. Further, the associations were positively strong in the 2010–2015 research period; however, they were absent, weak, or medium in the 2016–2019 research period. The findings suggest that socioeconomic factors relate to the increase in hikikomori , and that these factors should be considered when identifying the individual or cultural factors that cause hikikomori. • We examine socioeconomic factors for hikikomori , 2010–2019. • Partial correlation were applied to hikikomori association and socioeconomic data. • We found a correlation between unemployment rate or household income and incidence of hikikomori. • Active job opening rate was not correlated to the incidence of hikikomori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hikikomori is a severe form of social withdrawal, originally described in Japan but recently reported in other countries. Debate exists as to what extent hikikomori is viewed as a problem outside of the Japanese context.Objective: We aimed to explore perceptions about hikikomori outside Japan by analyzing Western language content from the popular social media platform, Twitter.Methods: We conducted a mixed methods analysis of all publicly available tweets using the hashtag #hikikomori between February 1 and August 16, 2018, in 5 Western languages (Catalan, English, French, Italian, and Spanish). Tweets were first classified as to whether they described hikikomori as a problem or a nonproblematic phenomenon. Tweets regarding hikikomori as a problem were then subclassified in terms of the type of problem (medical, social, or anecdotal) they referred to, and we marked if they referenced scientific publications or the presence of hikikomori in countries other than Japan. We also examined measures of interest in content related to hikikomori, including retweets, likes, and associated hashtags.Results: A total of 1042 tweets used #hikikomori, and 656 (62.3%) were included in the content analysis. Most of the included tweets were written in English (44.20%) and Italian (34.16%), and a majority (56.70%) discussed hikikomori as a problem. Tweets referencing scientific publications (3.96%) and hikikomori as present in countries other than Japan (13.57%) were less common. Tweets mentioning hikikomori outside Japan were statistically more likely to be retweeted (P=.01) and liked (P=.01) than those not mentioning it, whereas tweets with explicit scientific references were statistically more retweeted (P=.01) but not liked (P=.10) than those without that reference. Retweet and like figures were not statistically significantly different among other categories and subcategories. The most associated hashtags included references to Japan, mental health, and the youth.Conclusions: Hikikomori is a repeated word in non-Japanese Western languages on Twitter, suggesting the presence of hikikomori in countries outside Japan. Most tweets treat hikikomori as a problem, but the ways they post about it are highly heterogeneous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]