While hikikomori is often viewed as a negative phenomenon, it has been argued that in fact it could increase social connectedness and sense of identity through new means better suited to those who adopt them. Moreover, the contrast between older traditions and a highly technologized society-a contrast that is particularly stark in contemporary Japan-may have contributed to a crisis of sociocultural values whose effects on adolescents could be particularly detrimental. Difficulties in labour market access and large economic changes are additional social factors acutely felt by younger generations. This may be due to the fact that the term was originally limited to the Japanese context, and was strictly associated with sociocultural features of the country, including the increased income of Japanese families, more lenient parenting, and a general decline in desire and motivation among young adults. Indeed, the classification of hikikomori as a syndrome with clearly defined clinical features is still controversial. However, unlike taijin kyofusho, hikikomori became a buzzword worldwide, in spite of a lack of consensus as to its definition. Taijin kyofusho has been associated with social phobias or social anxiety disorders and has been classified in DSM-5 into the glossary of cultural concepts of distress. For instance, the term taijin kyofusho describes young people who leave their jobs or schooling for long periods without having a diagnosis of depression or psychosis. Various other forms of severe social withdrawal were described in Japan from the end of the 1970s. Moreover, other psychiatric disorders as an exclusion criterion for hikikomori were removed, since hikikomori may undergo a variety of co-occurring psychiatric disorders as a contributor to psychopathology Distress or functional impairment should be carefully evaluated, since subjective distress may not be present, albeit hikikomori people usually feel distressed as the duration of social withdrawal gets longer. However, the requirement for avoidance of social situations and relationships was removed, since hikikomori commonly report having few meaningful social relationships and little social interaction. This definition tried also to clarify the frequency of going outside home, and the duration of social withdrawal. provided an updated proposal of diagnostic criteria for hikikomori, which comprised the following criteria: 1) marked social isolation in one’s home 2) duration of continuous social isolation of at least 6 months and 3) significant functional impairment or distress associated with the social isolation. Although hikikomori is defined as a non-psychotic state, it is better to think that patients of schizophrenia may be mixed into this grouping until they’ll be receive the diagnosis of psychosis”. This occurs among children, adolescents, and adults under 30 years old. In 2010, the MHLW produced a more accurate description: “ Hikikomori is a psycho-sociological phenomenon, one of its characteristic features being withdrawal from social activities and staying at home almost each day for more than half a year. The first guidelines about hikikomori were published by the Japanese Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in 2003, defining hikikomori as a condition characterized by:Ģ) No interest or willingness to attend school or work ģ) Persistence of symptoms/behaviours beyond six months Ĥ) Schizophrenia, mental retardation or other mental disorders were to be excluded.Īmong those with no interest or willingness to attend school or work, those who maintained personal relationships (e.g., friendships) were also to be excluded. The phenomenon is widespread in Japan where it is estimated that upwards of one million people live reclusive lives as hikikomori. It later gained international attention with the 1998 publication of the book Shakaiteki Hikikomori: Owaranai Shishunki ( Hikikomori: Adolescence without End) by the Japanese psychiatrist T. Fujiya first used the term in 1985 to refer to retreat neurosis and student apathy. The term hikikomori derives from the Japanese verbs hiki and komoru, which means “withdraw” and “come into” respectively.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |