Apathetic Social Withdrawal in Young People in Scotland
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Examining Clinical Homologues of “Hikikomori”: Apathetic Social Withdrawal in Young People in Scotland
IRAS ID
251982
Contact name
Hamish J McLeod
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 17 days
Research summary
Title: Examining Clinical Homologues of “Hikikomori”: Apathetic Social Withdrawal in Young People in Scotland.
Background:
Social withdrawal occurs in a variety of mental health difficulties. It is associated with psychological distress and difficulties in social and occupational functioning (Teo & Gaw, 2010; Teo et al., 2015). In Japan social withdrawal affecting youth has been identified as a syndrome called Hikikomori (Saito, 2013). Hikikomori is characterised by social withdrawal and social isolation. Given the impact that social withdrawal has on young peoples’ functioning and the distress that it causes, further research into its occurrence is needed. Developing a reliable measure of social withdrawal will help to understand the impact of social withdrawal on young people in Scotland.Aims:
The aim of this study is to develop the measure of social withdrawal, Glasgow Hikikomori Scale (GHS), and to assess its reliability and validity.Methods:
Participants of the study, their carers and clinicians will be asked to complete measures assessing social withdrawal, apathy, coping styles, loneliness and their impact on day to day functioning.Participants:
Participants will be children and adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 presenting with social withdrawal difficulties. Carers of patients presenting with social withdrawal and CAMHS clinicians will be also invited to take part in this study as informants, if participants provide consent. No personal information will be gathered regarding clinicians and family members. They will be asked to take part in the study to enhance the understanding of the participants' difficulties.Recruitment:
Participants and their carers will be recruited from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.Practical implications:
The development and assessment of the reliability and validity of the GHS will allow to determine the impact of social withdrawal on young people in Scotland. This will allow to utilise GHS in the future research on the occurrence of social withdrawal amongst youth.REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
19/WS/0042
Date of REC Opinion
23 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion