Hikikomori Risk in the UK

Background: Hikikomori syndrome involves voluntary withdrawal from social life, school and work, with onset typically in young adulthood. Hikikomori risk has not been examined in the UK, and these studies aimed to validate and refine the Hikikomori Risk Inventory-24 (HRI-24) screening tool in UK young adults. Methods/Results: In Study 1, participants (n = 341) completed the HRI-24. Item analysis and confirmatory factor analysis resulted in a shorter 13-item HRI (HRI-13), which demonstrated a perfect correlation with the full HRI-24. Both the HRI-13 and HRI-24 showed strong convergent and divergent validity, correlating with depression, anxiety, avoidant coping and negative early life factors. Study 2 (n = 228) found a significant positive correlation between HRI-13 scores and modern-type depression, typified by social avoidance and often comorbid with technology-based addictions. Conclusion: Both HRI-13 and HRI-24 effectively capture hikikomori risks related to negative affect and anxiety but may have limitations in identifying risks unrelated to negative affect.