Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Jul 27, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: Jul 29, 2025 - Sep 23, 2025
Date Accepted: Dec 12, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Exploring cognitive and behavioural risk and maintenance factors of Hikikomori: Protocol for an Ecological Momentary Assessment study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Hikikomori is a state of social withdrawal first identified in Japan gaining interest globally. Clinical case studies and cross-sectional studies suggest emotion regulation, familial support and internet behaviours are proposed to contribute to the onset and maintenance of a withdrawn state, though they have not been explored longitudinally.
Objective:
To investigate risk factors of hikikomori identified in previous research and explore the temporal dynamics of these relationships.
Methods:
A minimum of 70 participants will complete self-report measures of hikikomori, internet addiction, depression, anxiety and autism, before participating in 14 days of EMA surveys. Surveys will be delivered 5 times per day, measuring mood, internet behaviour, familial relationships, social behaviour and enjoyment, sleep quality and physical activity.
Results:
Multiple regression analyses will explore which baseline factors and grand-averaged EMA variables predict hikikomori symptoms, whilst time-lagged network analyses will explore the temporal dynamics of these relationships. Finally, time-lagged logistic regressions will explore which factors predict future social behaviour.
Conclusions:
This study will be the first to investigate currently proposed mechanisms underlying hikikomori, whilst also investigating the time-varying relationships between affect and social behaviour. The results will have implications for hikikomori treatment, as well as open new avenues for future research into the condition.
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Copyright
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