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A Physical Health Profile of Youths Living with a “Hikikomori” Lifestyle

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Listed:
  • John W. M. Yuen

    (School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Yoyo K. Y. Yan

    (School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Victor C. W. Wong

    (Department of Social Work, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Wilson W. S. Tam

    (Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore, Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077, Singapore)

  • Ka-Wing So

    (Withdrawal Youth Service, Hong Kong Christian Service, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Wai Tong Chien

    (School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was designed to understand the impacts of “hikikomori” lifestyle on physical health. A total of 104 eligible hikikomori cases were recruited from the social services network of Hong Kong with a mean age of 19.02 ± 3.62 (ranged 13–31) year-old, and had completed the set of questionnaires and a series of anthropometric and physical health measurements. Despite SF36 score of 84.0 indicated good physical functioning in general, participants were lived sedentarily with high incidence of hypertension at 15.4% and prehypertension at 31.7%. Occurrence of hypertension and prehypertension in cases living as hikikomori >6 months were 3 times and 1.5 times higher than those newly onset cases, respectively. The blood pressure levels were correlated with age and all obesity index parameters measured including waist circumference and body mass index. Results also observed a shift of body weight from underweight to overweight and obesity along the hikikomori duration. Half of the hypertensive cases involved the elevation of systolic blood pressure, which suggested higher odds of cardiovascular complications. In conclusion, the hikikomori lifestyle could be a risk behavior that may harm the younger generation physically by promoting obesity and hypertension and probably other chronic illnesses.

Suggested Citation

  • John W. M. Yuen & Yoyo K. Y. Yan & Victor C. W. Wong & Wilson W. S. Tam & Ka-Wing So & Wai Tong Chien, 2018. "A Physical Health Profile of Youths Living with a “Hikikomori” Lifestyle," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-13, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:2:p:315-:d:131405
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alan R. Teo, 2010. "A New Form of Social Withdrawal in Japan: a Review of Hikikomori," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 56(2), pages 178-185, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. John W. M. Yuen & Victor C. W. Wong & Wilson W. S. Tam & Ka Wing So & Wai Tong Chien, 2019. "A One-Year Prospective Follow-Up Study on the Health Profile of Hikikomori Living in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Coeli, Gianluca & Planas-Lladó, Anna & Soler-Masó, Pere, 2023. "The relevance of educational contexts in the emergence of Social Withdrawal (hikikomori). A review and directions for future research," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    3. Ana Vilardell-Dávila & Gloria Martínez-Andrade & Miguel Klünder-Klünder & América Liliana Miranda-Lora & Eugenia Mendoza & Samuel Flores-Huerta & Jorge Eduardo Vargas-González & Ximena Duque & Jenny V, 2023. "A Multi-Component Educational Intervention for Addressing Levels of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors of Schoolchildren," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-17, February.

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