Yong Roseline
Department of Environmental Health Science and Public Health, Graduate School of Medicine, Akita University, Akita, Japan.
Front Psychiatry. 2024 Feb 15;15:1323846. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1323846. eCollection 2024.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
日本的孤独问题因人口挑战和蛰居族现象（极端社会退缩）而加剧，引发了人们的关注。本研究批判性地审视孤独动态，质疑蛰居族分类中隐含的假设。“蛰居族”一词最初表示长期居家，需要进行细致入微的探究，尤其是关于外向行为与孤独之间的关系。
本研究调查外向行为与孤独之间的复杂联系，质疑现有蛰居族分类的有效性。旨在了解这些分类是否准确代表各年龄组的孤独谱，该研究强调在社会挑战中理解孤独动态的重要性。该研究探讨了一系列影响孤独的因素，包括人口统计学、心理健康和外向行为，主张重新评估与蛰居族分类相关的假设。
这项二次分析采用了2012年7月进行的全国性网瘾调查数据。对623名年龄在16岁及以上的日本互联网用户代表性样本进行了因子分析。使用加州大学洛杉矶分校孤独量表评估孤独感，暴露变量包括人口统计学、心理健康、外向行为和生活方式因素。统计分析包括描述性统计、单因素方差分析、卡方检验和逻辑回归。
在孤独得分方面，基于性别、年龄、婚姻状况、就业和外向行为观察到显著差异。心理健康因素，包括对生活和浪漫的不满、生活压力和心理困扰，成为孤独的重要促成因素。该研究对现有的蛰居族分类提出质疑，表明它们可能无法完全涵盖参与日常学校或工作活动的个人的孤独经历。
研究结果强调需要重新评估蛰居族，强调孤独在日本是一个复杂多面的问题。该研究主张采取细致入微的策略来解决孤独问题，考虑到不同的人口脆弱性。局限性包括大流行前的样本和潜在的未测量混杂因素。
