Hikikomori: A perspective from bibliometric analysis

Abstract

AimsHikikomori is a common phenomenon reported in Japan and many other countries. However, the broad trends of the research publications on hikikomori are unclear. Therefore, this study examined the patterns of research on hikikomori using bibliometric analysis.MethodsRelevant publications were searched in Web of Science. Bibliometric analyses were performed with CiteSpace, R and VOSviewer.ResultsIn total, 297 publications on hikikomori met the eligibility criteria. The International Journal of Social Psychiatry (IF = 10.461) published the most papers (K = 17, or 5.7%) on hikikomori. Takahiro A. Kato from Kyushu University (41; 13.8%; H‐index = 18) was the most influential author, while Takahiro A. Kato (total link strength [TLS]: 235), Alan R. Teo (TLS: 157), and Masaru Tateno (TLS: 153) separately had the strongest research collaboration with other researchers. Of all countries that published on hikikomori, Japan had the highest number of publications (K = 91). The keywords “United States” and “psychiatric diagnosis” received the most attention between 2013 and 2015, whereas “health” and “autism spectrum disorder” received the most attention in 2021 and 2022.ConclusionsPeer‐reviewed research publications on hikikomori are growing rapidly and the research trends in this field are also changing.

Shifting the paradigm of social withdrawal: a new era of coexisting pathological and non-pathological hikikomori

“…In 2013, the world-first hikikomori research clinic has been launched at Kyushu University Hospital (Fukuoka, Japan), and hundreds of persons who show hikikomori-like conditions have been introduced, treated, and also recruited for clinical research [ 9 , 37 ▪▪ ]. Interestingly, during clinical interviews, some persons denied being called “hikikomori” by the following reasons: “I am not avoiding society but just staying home because I have nothing to do,” “I go to convenience store every night,” and/or “I do not meet friends in-person, but I meet and chat many friends via online gaming every day.” Importantly, majority of such persons revealed to have significant functional impairment or distress associated with hikikomori-like conditions.…”

Validation of the German version of the 25‐item hikikomori questionnaire 25

“…Hikikomori is a condition characterized by extreme social withdrawal, which has raised significant concerns, especially in highly urbanized and technologically advanced societies during the past decades (Cai et al., 2023 ; Watts, 2002 ). The term “hikikomori” gained prominence after Japanese psychiatrist Tamaki Saito's work was published in 1998 (Tamaki & Angles, 2013 ).…”