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Discrimination and prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex and asexual+ (LGBTQIA+) individuals exacerbate social anxiety. Communication via avatars in virtual communities may be an effective strategy to reduce related symptoms. This study measured social anxiety in LGBTQIA+ and non‐LGBTQIA+ individuals among Japanese users of Pigg Party, a massively multiplayer online game, in physical and virtual communities that use avatars for communication. They answered questions on social anxiety in physical and virtual communities and avatar identification (i.e., the degree of identification of the avatar with the self). The number of avatar customizations and amount of communication via avatars (indexed by the number of virtual peers) were collected based on game logs. The results revealed that the LGBTQIA+ group exhibited significantly higher rates of social anxiety in physical but not virtual communities than the non‐LGBTQIA+ group. Moreover, the LGBTQIA+ group displayed higher levels of identification with avatars than the non‐LGBTQIA+ group. Increased identification with avatars and avatar customization correlated with an increased number of communications via avatars, which was consequently linked to reduced social anxiety in physical and virtual communities. These findings suggest that communication using avatars can reduce social anxiety among LGBTQIA+ individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study applied the actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) to simultaneously consider whether, and how, motivations for social withdrawal among Chinese children and adolescents (actor effects) and their best friends (partner effects) uniquely contributed to indices of socio‐emotional adjustment. Participants were 101 same‐gender best friend dyads (46 boys, Mage = 12.17 years, SD = 1.39) in mainland China. Among the results, actor effects were found such that youths' own shyness and unsociability were related uniquely to the socio‐emotional adjustment outcomes. In addition, partner effects were found such that best friend's shyness and unsociability were related uniquely to youths' social preferences and depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the important role of best friends' motivations for social withdrawal in explaining variability in Chinese youths' socio‐emotional adjustment and well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children from multicultural families (i.e., families with at least one parent from a foreign country other than Korea) in South Korea face increased risks of adverse life conditions at home and school. However, few studies have investigated the cumulative effects of family and school adversities, especially internalizing behaviors in this population. This study examined the association between neglect and internalizing behaviors (i.e., depression and social withdrawal) and whether victimization from school violence amplifies the impact of neglect. Data were drawn from the second wave of the Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study (MAPS), which was constructed by the National Youth Policy Institute (NYPI) and included 1500 fifth-graders surveyed in 2012. We first examined the moderating effect of school violence victimization on the association between neglect and depression and subsequently tested the same model to predict social withdrawal. This study showed that neglect significantly increased depression and social withdrawal. Additionally, the impact of neglect on depression and social withdrawal intensified when school violence coexisted. The findings of this study suggest that children from multicultural families exposed to co-occurring adversities require more attention. Assessment of polyvictimization and psychological counseling are necessary for supporting these children who have suffered violence at home and school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine distinct loneliness trajectories and to explore the roles of group-level peer preference and individual-level social withdrawal (i.e., unsociability and shyness) as predictors of these trajectories. Participants were 1134 Chinese elementary school students (Mage = 10.44 years; 565 boys). Data were collected from self-reports and peer nominations. Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was employed to identify distinct trajectories of loneliness, and multinomial logistic regression was subsequently used to examine the relationships between these trajectories and their predictors. Results showed that three loneliness trajectories were identified: high increasing, moderate decreasing, and low decreasing. Participants at baseline with higher peer preference were more likely to belong to the low decreasing trajectory subgroup rather than the other two subgroups. Furthermore, those at Time 1 with higher unsociability had lower odds of being classified into the moderate or low decreasing trajectory subgroup compared to the high increasing trajectory subgroup. Additionally, participants at baseline with higher shyness had reduced likelihoods of following the low decreasing trajectory subgroup as opposed to the other two subgroups. These results have implications for how we understand both the different subgroups of loneliness trajectories and the predictions of peer preference and social withdrawal on these trajectories in Chinese early adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to differentiate groups of children and early adolescents characterized by their motivations for social withdrawal and personal experiences with solitude. Participants were N = 561 (307 girls) children and early adolescents, aged 8–14 years (M = 11.32, SD = 1.63), who completed self‐report assessments of motivations for social withdrawal (i.e., shyness, unsociability), social/asocial dissatisfaction (i.e., loneliness, aloneliness), time alone, affect during solitude, personality traits (i.e., Big Five), and indices of internalizing difficulties (i.e., social anxiety, depression). Results from a Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) provided evidence of three distinct groups characterized by different motivations for social withdrawal and experiences with solitude: (1) the shy group, characterized by higher levels of loneliness, social anxiety, depression, and emotional instability; (2) the unsociable group, who reported higher levels of aloneliness and average scores of extraversion and internalizing difficulties; and (3) the sociable group, characterized by lower levels of both loneliness and aloneliness, and higher levels of extraversion. Overall, findings confirmed the heterogeneity in how children and early adolescents experience solitude, their motivations, and individual dispositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Smartphone distraction (SD) is closely related to depression, and the prevalence of SD among nursing students is gradually increasing. However, the potential mechanism of the effect of SD on nursing students’ depression is unclear. A total of 574 nursing students were assessed using Smartphone Distraction Scale, Ruminative Response Scale, Hikikomori Questionnaire, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The results indicated that SD among nursing students had an impact on depression through four pathways: (1) SD was positively associated with depression (β = 0.353, P

People with sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), when overstimulated, feel overwhelmed, stressed, and in need of social withdrawal, rest, and reestablishing balance in the nervous system. This study focuses on analyzing the moderator effect of overstimulation on health-related quality of life (mental health, vitality, and body pain), extraversion, and maladaptive coping strategies in people with SPS. Participants (N = 10,520 adults) completed the Spanish versions of the High Sensitivity Person Scale (HSPS-S), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI). Participants with high overstimulation levels were observed to have a worse quality of life related to health, greater introversion, and a tendency to use more maladaptive coping strategies. Furthermore, two of the health-related quality of life indicators, mental health and vitality, occupy a central position in the relationships between variables; there was a negative relationship between mental health and active maladaptive coping strategies, as well as between extraversion and nonactive maladaptive coping strategies. Lastly, the level of overstimulation was not identified as an indicator that differentially influences its relationship with the study variables. These findings demonstrate the need to use prevention and clinical intervention programs that address mental health and vitality, as well as introversion and the use of maladaptive coping strategies in people with high sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackgroundAimMethodResultsConclusionsPsychosis is often associated with loneliness, the absence of a confidant and a perceived lack of social support. In addition, the social isolation and solitude experienced can aggravate internalised stigma, depressive symptoms and/or suicidal tendencies, and worsen the course of the disorder.This study explores the experiences and perceptions of persons with psychosis concerning how their interpersonal relationships have evolved from the earliest symptoms of the disorder to its subsequent clinical stabilisation.A qualitative content analysis was performed of the findings from five focus groups and six in-depth interviews (36 participants).In the prodrome and initial symptoms stage, five themes were coded: social withdrawal, loss of friends, loss of personal skills, communication difficulties and breakdown of life project. During the recovery phase, four themes were coded: family support, partner support, loneliness and the desire for more close relationships. Finally, during the clinical stabilisation phase, three themes were coded: the recovery of interpersonal relationships, including with peers; reconstruction of the life project and increased interpersonal sensitivity.These findings highlight the impact that psychosis can have on social life and show that recovery is also related to the development of maeningful interpersonal relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurological disease that negatively influences patients' quality of life (QoL). Reduced social interactions are a result of both PD symptoms and impairment in QoL, which is known as social withdrawal. Smartphones are suitable for monitoring social behaviour under the notion of digital phenotyping, as people spend significant time socialising on them. We implement year-long longitudinal research using smartphones to study social withdrawal in PD. In addition to an entire year of 24/7 continuous monitoring on smartphones, weekly social ratings and QoL are provided as self-report ground truth. Twenty-three features are extracted from more than 10 million raw data entries collected from eight participants. These features are then used to build models to reflect participants' self-report ratings. We consider the interactions that happen on smartphones, such as calls, messages and social media, and use smartphone sensors to infer face-to-face interactions. By applying multiple linear regression and Naive Bayes, our model is significantly better than just assigning mean and random guesses. The results suggest that our approach provides a more granular method for tracking social behaviour in people with PD via smartphones, and it could benefit wider communities where the social impact on patients needs attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extant studies have empirically tested the main two behavior responses following ostracism: prosocial or antisocial. Few studies have investigated the relationship between ostracism and social withdrawal. According to the temporal needthreat model and the self-verification theory, the present study aimed to examine the influence mechanism of ostracism on social withdrawal, especially the mediating role of self-esteem and the moderating role of rejection sensitivity. A total of 1,315 Chinese high school students (52.6% female) completed a written questionnaire. Results showed that ostracism was positively correlated with social withdrawal. Ostracism not only directly predicted social withdrawal, but also indirectly affected social withdrawal by threatening adolescents' selfesteem. High rejection sensitivity may help aggravate adolescents' self-esteem threaten perceive from ostracism. Adolescents with high rejection sensitivity felt a greater threat to self-esteem when ostracized. Findings suggest a new direction for understanding individuals' responses to ostracism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social dysfunction is a maladaptive process of coping, problem solving, and achieving one's goals. A new definition of apathy was cross-linked to social dysfunction, with a reduced goal-directed behavior and social interaction as a separate dimension. We hypothesized that these two neuropsychiatric symptoms may be included in the mild behavioral impairment diagnostic framework, operationalizing and standardizing late-life neuropsychiatric symptom assessment, to improve risk determination of dementia. Social dysfunction and apathy were transdiagnostic and prodromic for late-life cognitive disorders. A transdiagnostic approach could provide a useful mean for a better understanding of apathy and related conditions such as social behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smartphone distraction (SD) is closely related to depression, and the prevalence of SD among nursing students is gradually increasing. However, the potential mechanism of the effect of SD on nursing students' depression is unclear. A total of 574 nursing students were assessed using Smartphone Distraction Scale, Ruminative Response Scale, Hikikomori Questionnaire, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The results indicated that SD among nursing students had an impact on depression through four pathways: (1) SD was positively associated with depression (β = 0.353, P < 0.001); (2) Rumination (β = 0.199, 95% CI: 0.081 to 0.162) and social withdrawal (β = 0.061, 95% CI: 0.034 to 0.091) mediated the effects of SD on depression, respectively; and (3) Rumination and social withdrawal played a chain mediating role in the effect of SD on nursing students' depression (β = 0.027, 95% CI: 0.015 to 0.042). The negative impact of SD on nursing students' mental health should not be taken lightly. Schools and hospitals should guide nursing students to use smartphones correctly, including providing mental health education and professional psychological counselling; families could play a supervisory role and communicate regularly to understand the psychological state and learning of nursing students. These measures can help nursing students cope with stress and reduce the risk of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited research in the literature that examines the relationships between the spiral of silence, nomophobia, and social withdrawal among university students. The objective of this research is to explore the mediating role of the spiral of silen ce/no mopho bia/s ocial withdrawal in the influence of nomophobia/social withdrawal/spiral of silence on social withdrawal/spiral of silence/nomophobia among university students. A survey consisting of three distinct scales was administered to assess levels of spiral of silence, nomophobia, and social withdrawal. Participants were requested to respond to three demographic questions, seven questions related to the spiral of silence construct, twenty questions pertaining to nomophobia, and twenty-two questions regarding social withdrawal. The data collected from a sample of 512 university students through convenience sampling and face-to-face survey techniques were analyzed using statistical software packages such as SPSS Process and Amos. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to determine the factor structure of the scales. Confirmatory factor analysis was also conducted to confirm whether the research model was consistent and the result was determined to be appropriate. The findings of the study were evaluated at the 95% confidence interval and .05 significance level. The findings of this investigation reveal a statistically significant relationship between the spiral of silence, nomophobia, and social withdrawal variables. This study has been deduced that among university students, the spiral of silence exerts a partial mediating effect on the relationship between nomophobia and social withdrawal ( p = .00 < .05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The present study endeavors to elucidate the impact of emotional regulation and parental rearing patterns on the social development of children in the upper grades of primary school. A burgeoning body of literature suggests that these factors significantly influence children's social adaptation and emotional well-being, yet a comprehensive examination of these relationships is warranted. Methods: Employing a cross-sectional design, this investigation utilized the Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran (EMBU), Emotional Regulation Questionnaire for Children (ERQC), and Child Behavioural Issues Scale (CBCL) to assess a sample of 276 pupils across grades 4-6. The selection of these instruments allowed for a multifaceted evaluation of the constructs of interest. Results: A pronounced disparity in parental rearing practices, emotional regulation capabilities, and levels of social withdrawal was observed among the different grades, with grade 5 exhibiting the most pronounced effects. Parental emotional warmth demonstrated a significant positive correlation with children's emotional regulation abilities, while punitive, rejecting, and preferential behaviors were inversely correlated. The study established that parental rearing practices indirectly influence social withdrawal through the mediating role of children's emotional regulation, underscoring the complexity of this relationship. Conclusion: The results underscore the salient role of parental rearing and emotional regulation in the social development of children. The study contributes to the existing literature by providing a nuanced understanding of the mechanisms through which parenting styles and emotional competencies interplay to affect social withdrawal. Implications for educational practices and future research directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We assessed if experimental sickness affected perception of unknown caregivers. • We developed the Caregiver Perception task (CgPT), in which participants watch and rate caregivers. • Twenty-six participants were injected with lipopolysaccharide (0.8 ng/kg body weight) and placebo. • Healthcare professionals providing care were rated more positively than those not providing care. • Experimental sickness led to increased willingness to receive care from caregivers who provided care. Social withdrawal is a well-established part of sickness behavior, but in some contexts sick animals might gain from keeping close instead of keeping away. For instance, sick individuals are more willing to be near known individuals who can provide care and safety (close others) compared to when healthy. Yet, interactions with some strangers might also be beneficial (i.e., healthcare professionals), but it is not known how sickness interplay with social behavior towards such individuals. Here, we assessed if sickness affects perception of caregivers, and developed a new task, the Caregiver Perception Task (CgPT). Twenty-six participants performed the CgPT, once after an injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.8 ng/kg body weight, n = 24), and once after an injection of saline (n = 25), one hour and forty-five minutes post-injection. During the task, participants watched short video clips of three types of caregivers: a healthcare professional taking care of a sick individual, a healthcare professional not taking care of a sick individual, and a non-healthcare professional taking care of their sick adult child or partner. After each video clip, the likability, trustworthiness, professionalism, and willingness to interact with and receive care from the caregiver were rated on visual analogue scales. Results showed that participants injected with saline rated healthcare professionals who did not take care of a sick individual less positively on all aspects compared to healthcare professionals who took care of a sick individual. Moreover, compared to saline, LPS increased the participants' willingness to receive care from healthcare professionals and non-healthcare professionals providing care, but not from healthcare professionals not providing care. Thus, our results indicate that sick individuals may approach unknown individuals with potential to provide care and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preschoolers who display extremely inhibited behavior are at risk for the development of anxiety disorders. However, behavioral inhibition (BI) is a multifaceted characteristic. Some children with BI are fearful when confronted by unfamiliar adults, peers, and objects; others are fearful when separated from their parents. In the present study, we examined specific features of BI that predicted observed friendship formation among preschoolers who are behaviorally inhibited. We also examined whether teacher ratings of classroom behaviors predicted friendship formation. Sixty highly inhibited children (35 female, Mage = 52.57 months) were observed during eight weekly free-play sessions with initially unfamiliar inhibited peers. Free-play periods occurred before weekly intervention sessions for children with BI and their parents. An observational protocol was developed to identify children who made a friend during the eight weekly sessions. Before the first session, different subtypes of BI were assessed by parents; preschool teachers assessed the children's classroom behaviors with familiar peers. Twenty-six children met the criteria for having made and kept a friend. Probit regression analyses revealed that parent ratings of BI among unfamiliar peers and teacher ratings of children's social anxiety before the intervention were associated with a decreased probability of making a friend. No evidence was found linking children's responses to the intervention and friendship formation. Results suggest that extremelyinhibited preschoolers are capable of making friends. Implications for future research and intervention efforts that focus on individual differences of children with BI are discussed. Public Significance Statement: Behavioral inhibition (BI) is a temperament construct reflecting a child's expression of anxiety, distress, or wariness when in the company of unfamiliar people, objects, or situations. In the present study, we found that preschoolers high on BI who were able to establish a friendship with an initially unfamiliar peer were those who were less anxious when among familiar classmates than those who were unable to make a friend. Moreover, children whose inhibition tendencies were present when among unfamiliar people rather than when faced with unfamiliar objects or situations were less likely to establish a friendship. Our findings suggest that (a) BI is a multifaceted construct and (b) those preschoolers with BI who are socially anxious and who have difficulty when introduced to unfamiliar age-mates would do well to participate in interventions that are focused on the development of social skills and the regulation of wariness when in the peer group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of social withdrawal behaviors has been a growing concern in recent years. The concept of hikikomori, a severe social withdrawal condition, has gained increasing attention in high‐income societies and developed economies. The term applies to both the condition and the person experiencing it. Technology has been blamed for exacerbating the isolation of hikikomoris. Paradoxically, anecdotal evidence suggests that technology can help mitigate their social withdrawal. Drawing on affordance theory, this study explores the potential of technology as an intermediate intervention to help hikikomoris reintegrate into society by addressing the research question—"How are the affordances of technology leveraged to contribute to the gradual reintegration of hikikomoris into society?" This netnographic study is based on over 2‐year naturalistic observations of the Hikikomori Escape online community. Our findings identified seven types of affordances that facilitate Hikikomoris' social reintegration journey: anonymous storytelling, meta connectivity, information access for skill growth, peer networking and community building, online coaching, virtual‐to‐real connectivity, and tech‐enabled skill development. We discuss how three levels of technology affordances shape hihikomoris' self‐motivation to connect socially at the individual and community levels, facilitating their gradual reintegration into society. This research contributes by developing an empirically grounded framework of how technology can contribute to addressing social withdrawal among hikikomoris. Such knowledge is crucial for scholars, policymakers, and health professionals seeking to tackle this pressing societal challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study explores the relationship between social withdrawal and problematic social media use among college students, with a focus on the mediating roles of alexithymia and negative body image. Using the University Student Social Withdrawal Questionnaire, Social Media Addiction Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and Negative Body Image Scale, 2582 college students (33.46% male, average age = 19.46 years, SD = 2.23) were surveyed. Social withdrawal, alexithymia, negative body image, and problematic social media use were significantly correlated with each other. Social withdrawal positively predicted problematic social media use, and both alexithymia and negative body image played a chain mediating role between social withdrawal and problematic social media use. The findings indicate that individual social withdrawal is associated with college students’ problematic use of social media. The results suggest that alexithymia and negative body image may mediate this association, highlighting a potential pathway through which social withdrawal influences social media use patterns.

During the last few decades, a growing field of literature is focusing on hikikomori, a phenomenon described as a form of pathological social withdrawal or social isolation that lasts for more than 6 months leading to significant functional impairment and/or distress. Despite initially considered a culture-bound syndrome, hikikomori syndrome later gained a wider recognition in different countries, ranging from an attempt to take refuge in an idealistic world, when society success' standards are not reached, to a maladaptive coping strategy complicating several psychiatric illnesses such as anxiety disorders, major depression, internet addiction, internet gaming disorder (IGD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this framework, difficulties in social interaction, in problem solving strategies and socio-emotional reciprocity, may lead to social withdrawal and hikikomori-like behaviors. In this work, we described two cases of patients where the presence of underlying autism spectrum may have represented a sign of vulnerability towards the development of a possible full-blown case of hikikomori with IGD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The 25‐item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ‐25) is an instrument developed to measure a condition characterized by extreme social withdrawal that was first described in Japan. This study aimed to translate the HQ‐25 into German and validate the German version (HQ‐25‐G). Methods: Translation was conducted according to established guidelines. Validation was based on data from a quota sample of individuals living in Germany, ranging from 18 to 74 years old (representing the distribution of age, sex and federal state, n = 5000). Data collection occurred during August and September 2023. We tested reliability, construct validity and concurrent validity. Moreover, HQ‐25 scores for key sociodemographic group were reported. Results: Internal reliability for the HQ‐25‐G was excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93). We confirmed the original three‐factor model. Moreover, higher hikikomori levels were significantly associated with more depressive symptoms (r = 0.50), more anxiety symptoms (r = 0.45), higher loneliness levels (r = 0.56), higher levels of objective social isolation (r = −0.47), higher levels of perceived social isolation (r = 0.59) and a higher preference for solitude (r = 0.45). Conclusions: In a large population‐based sample (including younger adults, middle‐aged adults and older adults), the HQ‐25‐G version proves to be a psychometrically robust instrument, which is useful for further exploring the phenomenon of hikikomori within the German‐speaking population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Further research is needed to clarify the association of the different forms of bullying with social anxiety and social withdrawal over time in adolescents. This two‐wave panel study with a 1‐year time lag (October 2021–October 2022) examined the cross‐lagged relationships between bullying victimization and bullying perpetration, social anxiety (i.e., fear or distress in social situations), and social withdrawal (i.e., consistent, and deliberate social solitude). Participants were 485 middle school students (234 girls) attending the seventh or eighth grade at Time 1 (T1) (Mage = 12.67 years, SD = 1.14 years). Social anxiety and social withdrawal were assessed using subscales of the Social and Emotional Competencies Evaluation Questionnaire. Bullying perpetration and bullying victimization were assessed using the Bullying and Cyberbullying Behavior Questionnaire–Short Form. The within‐wave associations between the study variables were similar at T1 and Time 2 (T2), with the exception that the association between bullying perpetration and social anxiety was much weaker at T1 than at T2. The results of the path analysis showed that T1 bullying perpetration predicted T2 social anxiety, and that T1 bullying victimization predicted T2 social withdrawal. We also found a reciprocal relationship between social anxiety and social withdrawal. These findings highlight the importance of preventive and remediation interventions to reduce social anxiety in adolescents who engage in and experience bullying behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a corrigendum for an article titled "Reevaluating hikikomori and challenging loneliness assumptions in Japan: A cross-sectional analysis of a nationwide internet sample." The corrigendum addresses errors in the title, affiliations, abstract, keywords, and tables of the published article. The corrections have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. The author apologizes for the errors and states that they do not affect the scientific conclusions of the article. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Loneliness in Japan, accentuated by demographic challenges and the hikikomori phenomenon (extreme social withdrawal), has raised concerns. This study critically examines loneliness dynamics, questioning assumptions embedded in hikikomori classifications. The term "hikikomori," originally signifying prolonged home stay, requires nuanced exploration, especially regarding outgoing behaviors' relationship with loneliness. Objectives: Investigating the intricate connection between outgoing behaviors and loneliness, this study questions the effectiveness of existing hikikomori classifications. Aiming to understand if these classifications accurately represent the loneliness spectrum across age groups, the research emphasizes the significance of comprehending loneliness dynamics amid societal challenges. The study explores an array of factors influencing loneliness, including demographics, mental health, and outgoing behaviors, advocating for a reassessment of assumptions linked to hikikomori classifications. Methods: This secondary analysis employed data from a nationwide Internet addiction survey conducted in July 2012. A sample of 623 participants, representative of Japanese internet users aged 16 and above, was included for analysis. Loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and exposure variables included demographic, mental health, outgoing behaviors, and lifestyle factors. Statistical analyses encompassed descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, chi-square tests, and logistic regression. Results: Significant differences were observed in loneliness scores based on sex, age, marital status, employment, and outgoing behaviors. Mental health factors, including dissatisfaction with life and romance, life stress, and psychological distress, emerged as strong contributors to loneliness. The study challenges existing hikikomori classifications, suggesting they may not fully encapsulate the loneliness experiences of individuals engaged in routine school or work activities. Conclusion: Findings underscore the need for a reevaluation of hikikomori, emphasizing loneliness as a complex and multifaceted issue in Japan. The study advocates for nuanced strategies to address loneliness, considering diverse demographic vulnerabilities. Limitations include the pre-pandemic sample and potential unmeasured confounding factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High and stable behavioral inhibition (BI) during early childhood may place individuals at increased risk of experiencing anxiety during the COVID-19 crisis. Prior knowledge syntheses showed that selective prevention interventions were effective in reducing child BI and anxiety. However, the effectiveness of preschool-based universal and selective prevention interventions targeted at BI to improve child social outcomes remains unclear. Due to the vulnerability of highly inhibited children, this rapid review aimed to (1) synthetize the characteristics of evidence-based interventions targeted at BI, and (2) summarize intervention outcomes in domains of child individual and social functioning. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published between january 1991 and december 2021, conducted with highly inhibited children aged 3 to 5 years, were included in the review. Thirteen RCTs on four evidence-based interventions targeted at BI were retained. Most studies were conducted in samples of married/cohabitating and highly educated mothers and almost half of them described parent-only interventions. Three pilot RCTs on child-only and multimodal interventions found significant post-intervention improvements in observed child social competence and positive peer interactions. Pre-to-post intervention changes in parent and teacher ratings on child social outcomes were less consistent across studies. Further large-scale RCTs with medium-to-long term follow-ups are needed to examine intervention outcomes in domains of child social functioning, using a multi-informant and multi-method approach. After the COVID-19 crisis, preschool-based universal interventions targeting BI may enhance the engagement of inhibited children from diverse communities and contribute to the generalization of intervention effects to naturalistic peer settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored teachers' understanding of children with aggressive or socially withdrawn behaviour in their classes and we associated our findings with a status of rejected, neglected, or popular, as provided by peer nominations. Five kindergarten and elementary school teachers scored their 143 pupils with the Child Behaviour Checklist for Withdrawal and Aggression. Subsequently, only those children whose scores were 1 standard deviation above the mean for withdrawal or for aggression were included in the final sample (n = 46; Mage = 6.5 years, SD = 1.7; age range = 4–9 years). The final sample included 31 children (21.67%; females = 16) who were assessed as displaying withdrawn behaviour, and 15 (10.48%; females = 5) displaying aggressive behaviour. An open-ended semi-structured interview was administered to teachers, who described children with socially withdrawn behaviour as introverted and untalkative, children with aggressive behaviour as hostile, rule-breaking and highly active, and children with socially withdrawn or aggressive behaviour as isolated, even though different reasons were provided. The results of the sociometric status in children with socially withdrawn or aggressive behaviour are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the relationship between social withdrawal and problematic social media use among college students, with a focus on the mediating roles of alexithymia and negative body image. Using the University Student Social Withdrawal Questionnaire, Social Media Addiction Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and Negative Body Image Scale, 2582 college students (33.46% male, average age = 19.46 years, SD = 2.23) were surveyed. Social withdrawal, alexithymia, negative body image, and problematic social media use were significantly correlated with each other. Social withdrawal positively predicted problematic social media use, and both alexithymia and negative body image played a chain mediating role between social withdrawal and problematic social media use. The findings indicate that individual social withdrawal is associated with college students' problematic use of social media. The results suggest that alexithymia and negative body image may mediate this association, highlighting a potential pathway through which social withdrawal influences social media use patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smartphone distraction considerably affects the depression level of college students. These two variables are highly associated with social withdrawal and digital distress. However, the underlying mechanisms of how social withdrawal and digital stress were involved in the relationship between smartphone distraction and depression remain unclear. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in seven colleges of Wuhan, Hubei Province, from September to November 2021. Participants were selected using convenience sampling. Smartphone distraction, social withdrawal, digital stress, and depression level were assessed using the Smartphone Distraction Scale (SDS), 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ-25), Multidimensional Digital Stress Scale (DSS), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), respectively. All scales demonstrated good reliability in this study, the reliability of each scale was 0.920, 0.884, 0.959, and 0.942. Results: The final analysis included 1184 students (692 males and 492 females), aged between 17 and 37 years. Participants were from various academic disciplines, including medical and non-medical. The findings revealed that smartphone distraction had a significant direct effect on depression (c = 0.073, 95 % CI: 0.037 to 0.108, p

Abstract Background Hikikomori (HK) is characterized by self-isolation and social refusal, being more likely also associated with affective disorders, including depression. This case–control study primarily aimed at identifying (if any) predominant affective temperaments are associated with HK in depressed versus not-depressed individuals. Secondary objectives comprise assessing which other psychopathological dimensions (e.g., boredom, anxiety) are associated with the HK specifier in depressed individuals. Methods From the larger SWATCH study, 687 Italian young people were screened for depression, as measured by 9 items-Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and HK-like social withdrawal, through the Hikikomori Questionnaire-25 (HQ-25). All subjects were administered a brief-Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego (TEMPS-M), the 7 items-Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and the Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS). Results Males reported significantly higher scores at HQ-25 total score than females (p = 0.026). In the total sample, HK social withdrawal is positively predicted by MSBS low arousal, disengagement, depressive levels, depressive and irritable affective temperaments, while negatively by anxiety (F(6, 680) = 82.336, p

This study aimed to examine distinct loneliness trajectories and to explore the roles of group-level peer preference and individual-level social withdrawal (i.e., unsociability and shyness) as predictors of these trajectories. Participants were 1134 Chinese elementary school students (Mage = 10.44 years; 565 boys). Data were collected from self-reports and peer nominations. Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was employed to identify distinct trajectories of loneliness, and multinomial logistic regression was subsequently used to examine the relationships between these trajectories and their predictors. Results showed that three loneliness trajectories were identified: high increasing, moderate decreasing, and low decreasing. Participants at baseline with higher peer preference were more likely to belong to the low decreasing trajectory subgroup rather than the other two subgroups. Furthermore, those at Time 1 with higher unsociability had lower odds of being classified into the moderate or low decreasing trajectory subgroup compared to the high increasing trajectory subgroup. Additionally, participants at baseline with higher shyness had reduced likelihoods of following the low decreasing trajectory subgroup as opposed to the other two subgroups. These results have implications for how we understand both the different subgroups of loneliness trajectories and the predictions of peer preference and social withdrawal on these trajectories in Chinese early adolescents.

Children from multicultural families (i.e., families with at least one parent from a foreign country other than Korea) in South Korea face increased risks of adverse life conditions at home and school. However, few studies have investigated the cumulative effects of family and school adversities, especially internalizing behaviors in this population. This study examined the association between neglect and internalizing behaviors (i.e., depression and social withdrawal) and whether victimization from school violence amplifies the impact of neglect. Data were drawn from the second wave of the Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study (MAPS), which was constructed by the National Youth Policy Institute (NYPI) and included 1500 fifth-graders surveyed in 2012. We first examined the moderating effect of school violence victimization on the association between neglect and depression and subsequently tested the same model to predict social withdrawal. This study showed that neglect significantly increased depression and social withdrawal. Additionally, the impact of neglect on depression and social withdrawal intensified when school violence coexisted. The findings of this study suggest that children from multicultural families exposed to co-occurring adversities require more attention. Assessment of polyvictimization and psychological counseling are necessary for supporting these children who have suffered violence at home and school.

Pediatric stroke can result in long-term impairments across attention, functional communication and motor domains. The current paper utilized parent reports of the Behavioral Assessment System for Children 2nd Edition and the Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure to examine children’s social skills and withdrawal behavior within a pediatric stroke population. Using the Canadian Pediatric Stroke Registry at The Hospital for Sick Children, data were analyzed for 312 children with ischemic stroke. Children with ischemic stroke demonstrated elevated parent-reported social skills problems (observed = 20.51%, expected = 14.00%) and clinically elevated social withdrawal (observed = 11.21%, expected = 2.00%). Attentional problems significantly contributed to reduced social skills, F (3,164) = 30.68, p < 0.01, while attentional problems and neurological impairments accounted for increased withdrawal behavior, F (2, 164) = 7.47, p < 0.01. The presence of a motor impairment was associated with higher social withdrawal compared to individuals with no motor impairment diagnosis, t(307.73) = 2.25, p < .025, d = 0.25, 95% CI [0.42, 6.21]. The current study demonstrates that children with stroke who experience motor impairments, attentional problems, reduced functional communication skills, and neurological impairments can experience deficits in their social skills and withdrawal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Loneliness in Japan, accentuated by demographic challenges and the hikikomori phenomenon (extreme social withdrawal), has raised concerns. This study critically examines loneliness dynamics, questioning assumptions embedded in hikikomori classifications. The term "hikikomori," originally signifying prolonged home stay, requires nuanced exploration, especially regarding outgoing behaviors' relationship with loneliness. Objectives: Investigating the intricate connection between outgoing behaviors and loneliness, this study questions the effectiveness of existing hikikomori classifications. Aiming to understand if these classifications accurately represent the loneliness spectrum across age groups, the research emphasizes the significance of comprehending loneliness dynamics amid societal challenges. The study explores an array of factors influencing loneliness, including demographics, mental health, and outgoing behaviors, advocating for a reassessment of assumptions linked to hikikomori classifications. Methods: This secondary analysis employed data from a nationwide Internet addiction survey conducted in July 2012. A sample of 623 participants, representative of Japanese internet users aged 16 and above, underwent factor analysis. Loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and exposure variables included demographic, mental health, outgoing behaviors, and lifestyle factors. Statistical analyses encompassed descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, chi-square tests, and logistic regression. Results: Significant differences were observed in loneliness scores based on sex, age, marital status, employment, and outgoing behaviors. Mental health factors, including dissatisfaction with life and romance, life stress, and psychological distress, emerged as strong contributors to loneliness. The study challenges existing hikikomori classifications, suggesting they may not fully encapsulate the loneliness experiences of individuals engaged in routine school or work activities. Conclusion: Findings underscore the need for a reevaluation of hikikomori, emphasizing loneliness as a complex and multifaceted issue in Japan. The study advocates for nuanced strategies to address loneliness, considering diverse demographic vulnerabilities. Limitations include the pre-pandemic sample and potential unmeasured confounding factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was designed to investigate the associations between social withdrawal, emotional symptoms, and suicide ideation in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). This cross-sectional study included 2678 MDD patients from the National Survey on Symptomatology of Depression (NSSD). Differences in the sociodemographic factors, clinical characteristics, suicide ideation, and emotional symptoms were compared in patients with different frequencies of social withdrawal. Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression analysis, and mediation analysis were employed to assess the contribution of social withdrawal to suicide ideation. MDD patients with a higher frequency of social withdrawal were prone to have a higher frequency of suicide ideation (p for trend <0.001) and history of suicide behavior (p for trend <0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that there was a dose–response relationship between social withdrawal and suicide ideation in MDD patients, but this association became insignificant after adjusting for emotional symptoms. Mediation analysis suggested that all of the emotional symptoms had significant mediating effects on the association between social withdrawal and suicide ideation in MDD patients (p < 0.05). The magnitude of mediation varied between 4.3 % and 64.3 %, with the largest mediating effect in the feeling of despair (64.3 %), helplessness (41.2 %), and loneliness (40.0 %). Our study provides evidence that social withdrawal was a common clinical presentation and it may increase the risk for suicide through emotional symptoms in MDD patients. Causal conclusions could not be drawn between social withdrawal, emotional symptoms, and suicide ideation because of the cross-sectional design of the study. • ≥ 60% of the major depressive disorder (MDD) patients had remarkable social withdrawal. • Social withdrawal was postively associated with suicide ideation and history of suicide behavior in MDD patients. • Emotional symptoms mediated the associations between social withdrawal and suicide ideation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multicultural teenagers in South Korea often suffer from psychological difficulties, such as social withdrawal and depression, due to communication difficulties, discrimination, and economic constraints. These emotional problems negatively affect career decision-making. However, little is known about the basic mechanism through which multicultural adolescents' internalizing problems affect their career decisions. This study expanded prior research by examining the sequential mediating effect of depression and achievement motivation in the relationship between social withdrawal and career decision-making and the moderated mediation effect of parental support in the causal pathway from social withdrawal to career decision-making via depression and achievement motivation. This study used panel data from the Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study (MAPS), a national survey. The results showed a sequential mediating effect of depression and achievement motivation, a moderating effect, and a moderating mediating effect of parental support. The results of this study imply that parental support is an essential factor that helps multicultural adolescents improve their career decision-making by alleviating depression and enhancing achievement motivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social and cognitive dysfunctions are the most persistent symptoms of schizophrenia. Since oxytocin (OXT) is known to play a role in social functions and modulates cognitive processes, we investigated the effects of a novel, nonpeptide, selective OXT receptor agonist, LIT-001, in a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia. Administration of methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM; 22 mg/kg) on the 17th day of rat pregnancy is known to cause developmental disturbances of the brain, which lead to schizophrenia-like symptomatology in the offspring. Here, we examined the effects of acutely administered LIT-001 (1, 3, and 10 mg/kg) in MAM-exposed males and females on social behaviour, communication and cognition. We report that MAM-treated adult male and female rats displayed reduced social behaviour, ultrasonic communication and novel object recognition test performance. LIT-001 partially reversed these deficits, increasing the total social interaction time and the number of 'positive', highly-modulated 50 kHz ultrasonic calls in male rats. The compound ameliorated MAM-induced deficits in object discrimination in both sexes. Present results confirm the pro-social activity of LIT-001 and demonstrate its pro-cognitive effects following acute administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last few decades, a growing field of literature is focusing on hikikomori, a phenomenon described as a form of pathological social withdrawal or social isolation that lasts for more than 6 months leading to significant functional impairment and/or distress. Despite initially considered a culture-bound syndrome, hikikomori syndrome later gained a wider recognition in different countries, ranging from an attempt to take refuge in an idealistic world, when society success’ standards are not reached, to a maladaptive coping strategy complicating several psychiatric illnesses such as anxiety disorders, major depression, internet addiction, internet gaming disorder (IGD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this framework, difficulties in social interaction, in problem solving strategies and socio-emotional reciprocity, may lead to social withdrawal and hikikomori-like behaviors. In this work, we described two cases of patients where the presence of underlying autism spectrum may have represented a sign of vulnerability towards the development of a possible full-blown case of hikikomori with IGD.

Nowadays, with the widespread use of social media, the use of Photoshop is also increasing. This creates a space for people to present their best selves. Individuals applying too much Photoshop to their photos on social media are seen as an indicator of their desire to be approved by others. People monitor and regulate themselves in line with the social selves they want to show. The purpose of this study is to investigate how self-monitoring and photo editing behaviors reflect people's evaluations of their appearance and how this relationship will be reflected in social withdrawal. The participants of the study consisted of 420 female participants. The hypotheses of the study were tested using the moderated mediation model and the mediation model for indirect effect. According to the results of the study, it was observed that the predicted indirect effect of social appearance anxiety on the relationship between photo editing behavior and social withdrawal did not have a significant effect under the moderating role of self-monitoring (moderated mediation) (b = .02, SE = .01, z = 1.22, p = .222; 95% CI [−.01,.04]). However, in the mediating role of social appearance anxiety, the indirect effect of photo editing behavior on social withdrawal was found to be significant (b =.03, SE = .01, z = 5.11, p < .001; 95% CI [.02,.03]). Therefore, it has been observed that people who resort to high rates of photo editing behavior experience social appearance anxiety and, as a result, exhibit high rates of social withdrawal behavior. Considering that negative body image causes negative health-related consequences, the study is expected to contribute to the consequences of excessive Photoshop use. Considering the prevalence of social media today, we expect the results of the study to provide new information to understand the effects of social media.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID) 2019 pandemic has been reported to have resulted in psychological disturbances. The Japanese term “hikikomori” refers to a state of preferring to stay at home. The COVID pandemic provided an opportunity to extend our current understanding of hikikomori by examining the psychological states of individuals who were in this state under lockdown, during which, paradoxically, their condition may have been adaptive. Methods: We administered a questionnaire to examine psychological changes among 600 people with hikikomori traits in Japan. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Subjective Stress Scale, and Stigma Questions for hikikomori were administered retrospectively at three time points. We also collected descriptive data regarding the participants’ coping strategies. Results: The participants’ sense of stigma regarding hikikomori was improved during the pandemic, whereas depression and anxiety worsened. The participants with ‘definite’ hikikomori (they met the diagnostic criteria) reported more severe depression and anxiety than those with ‘possible’ hikikomori. Their coping strategies were adaptive to the pandemic situation. Conclusion: Although the sense of stigma against hikikomori was improved and adaptive strategies were employed, the participants with hikikomori experienced a worsening of depression and anxiety during the COVID lockdowns. The improvement of stigma and the participants’ indoor adaptive coping strategies could not ameliorate the mental state of hikikomori. Therapeutic interventions should be considered in the future for definite hikikomori meeting the criteria.

The research should consider the complex dynamics of social interaction to better understand smartphone dependence among adolescents. In social situations, adolescents can choose to interact with their peers or use their smartphones, and smartphone dependence can drive adolescents far away from interaction with their peers. Adolescents, conversely, may use smartphones to avoid peer interaction because they have experienced social withdrawal or negative peer relationships. Previous research has not discussed enough what precedes or follows in longitudinal relationships. This study aims to examine the reciprocal longitudinal effects between adolescents’ negative peer relationships, social withdrawal, and smartphone dependence. The analysis used longitudinal panel data collected yearly between 2018 and 2020 from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS) sampled from adolescents in the Republic of Korea and employed autoregressive cross-lagged modeling on 2230 participants. The reciprocal longitudinal relationships differed depending on the sub-factors of smartphone dependence. For instance, the sub-factor of smartphone dependence, including virtual life orientation and withdrawal, had reciprocal longitudinal relationships with negative peer relationships. The other sub-factor of smartphone dependence, including daily life disturbance and tolerance, influenced negative peer relationships consistently, but the converse path did not. In addition, social withdrawal longitudinally affected negative peer relationships the following year. However, the reciprocal longitudinal relationships between social withdrawal and smartphone dependence were not significant in any path in this research. This research provides practical implications for intervention to reduce smartphone dependence among young adolescents.

Background: Theoretical and empirical studies on stress generation suggest four event generation processes: (1) vulnerability factors predict more negative interpersonal events; (2) vulnerability factors predict fewer positive interpersonal events; (3) resiliency factors predict fewer negative interpersonal events; and (4) resiliency factors predict more positive interpersonal events. However, few studies have examined these four processes simultaneously within a single analytic model. Therefore, it is unclear whether vulnerability and resiliency factors make unique and differential contributions to the occurrences of negative and positive interpersonal events. General objectives: This study aimed to fill this important gap by examining whether social withdrawal and excessive reassurance-seeking (vulnerable interpersonal behaviors) and prosocial behaviors (a resilient interpersonal behavior) uniquely and differentially predict the occurrences of negative and positive peer events among young adolescents. This study also examined the sex differences in these relationships. Methods: One hundred and ninety-eight students (109 girls) were recruited from a public middle school in Japan. A multiple-group path analysis was conducted to examine possible sex differences. Results: Social withdrawal uniquely predicted more negative peer events for boys and fewer positive peer events for boys and girls. Excessive reassurance-seeking uniquely predicted both more negative peer events and more positive peer events for boys and girls. Prosocial behavior uniquely predicted more positive peer events for boys and girls. Conclusion: This study underscores the unique and differential roles of vulnerable and resilient interpersonal behaviors in predicting negative and positive peer events among young adolescents. These findings not only advance our understanding of stress generation processes but also have broader implications for adolescent development and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of studies analyzing if universal school-based Social and Emotional Learning programs can reduce social withdrawal and social anxiety. This study analyzed the effectiveness of one such program on those variables, and the role of individual school climate perceptions. In this nationwide study, 704 seventh to eighth-grade Portuguese students (Mage = 12.96, SD = 1.09, 48% girls), of which 215 (30.6%) in the comparison group, were assessed at pretest, post-test, and follow-up seven months later. Analyses showed positive intervention results in self- and teacher-reported social withdrawal and social anxiety. Regarding school climate, intervention group students with more positive teacher-student relationships benefitted more from program participation in social anxiety. These results support the program's effectiveness for addressing social withdrawal and social anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Young adults are at elevated risks of hikikomori (severe social withdrawal) under the COVID-19 pandemic, which could lead to psychological distress and suicidal ideation. Aims: The present study aimed to examine the associations among hikikomori, suicide stigma, suicidal ideation, and help-seeking behaviors among young adults in Hong Kong. Method: This study recruited a large sample of 2,022 young adults in Hong Kong via an online survey at the end of 2021. The participants completed the Hikikomori Questionnaire and validated measures on psychological distress, suicide stigma, and suicidal ideation severity and report their help-seeking behaviors. Multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to compare the profiles of the hikikomori groups. Path analysis evaluated the effects of hikikomori and suicide stigma on occurrence and severity of suicidal ideation and their associations with help-seeking behaviors. Results: Hikikomori showed significant and positive indirect effects on prevalence and severity of suicidal ideation via psychological distress. Glorification positively predicted hikikomori and suicidal ideation severity among suicidal persons. Hikikomori was associated with reduced help-seeking. Isolation and suicidal ideation were associated with greater barriers to seek help among the non-help-seekers. Perceived helpfulness of sought help was negatively associated with hikikomori and suicidal ideation among the help-seekers. Conclusions: The present findings demonstrated greater prevalence and severity of suicidal ideation and less help-seeking in young adults with hikikomori. Suicide stigma showed differential associations with hikikomori, suicidal ideation, and help-seeking behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated how young children's (5‐to‐8‐year‐olds) social inhibition and solitary behavior were associated with teacher–child relationship quality and whether these associations differed across the Netherlands and China. The Dutch sample included 35 teachers and 201 children (49% girls). The Chinese sample consisted of 19 teachers and 152 children (50% girls). Teachers rated children's social inhibition and solitary behavior, and their relationship (closeness, conflict) with each child. Multilevel linear modeling revealed that in both countries, social inhibition was associated negatively with closeness and solitary behavior was associated positively with conflict. These associations were equally strong in China and the Netherlands. One association differed across countries: Social inhibition was associated negatively with conflict in the Netherlands, whereas this association was not significant in China. As such, cultural values could affect how social inhibition links to teacher–child relationships. Caution is recommended when generalizing findings from one country to another country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]