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Amendola S, Cerutti R. Examining the relationship between social withdrawal motivations and symptoms of hikikomori. J Child Adolesc Ment Health 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38638073 DOI: 10.2989/17280583.2023.2291180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between social withdrawal motivations (peer isolation, shyness, unsociability, low mood, and avoidance) and symptoms of hikikomori using both variable- and person-oriented analyses.Method: Adolescents (N = 212) participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected using the Social Withdrawal Motivations Scale and the Avoidance subscale of the Child Social Preference Scale-Revised, the 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire, the Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 Brief Form, and the Interpersonal sensitivity subscale of the Brief Symptom Inventory.Results: Path analysis revealed that peer isolation, shyness, unsociability, and avoidance were associated with symptoms of hikikomori while covarying for age, sex, maladaptive personality, and interpersonal sensitivity. Cluster analysis based on social withdrawal motivations identified four subtypes of adolescents. The group with high social withdrawal motivations showed the highest level of overall personality dysfunction and interpersonal sensitivity. Additionally, the group with high social withdrawal motivations and the group with high avoidance demonstrated higher symptoms of hikikomori compared to the other two groups, after accounting for the effects of the covariates.Conclusions: The findings highlight that the evaluation of co-occurrent social withdrawal motivations may improve the ability to identify those adolescents most in need of support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Amendola
- Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Cerutti
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
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Kanai K, Kitamura Y, Zha L, Tanaka K, Ikeda M, Sobue T. Prevalence of and factors influencing Hikikomori in Osaka City, Japan: A population-based cross-sectional study. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2024:207640241245926. [PMID: 38616515 DOI: 10.1177/00207640241245926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Hikikomori is commonly defined as a social condition in which individuals avoid social participation and relationships beyond their family members by confining themselves to a room or their house for 6 months or longer. Hikikomori has been predominantly considered a problem among young people; however, as the population is ageing, hikikomori has also emerged as a social issue among adults. Nevertheless, no comparative studies have examined the differences in the factors associated with hikikomori among teenagers/young adults and middle-aged/older adults. Thus, this phenomenon has not been thoroughly examined, and it remains unclear whether the risk factors vary between teenagers/young adults and middle-aged/older adults. Based on the Japan Cabinet Office's definition of hikikomori, this cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence and related factors of hikikomori among the working age population (15-64 years), utilising univariate and multivariate analyses. The study also compared differences in the prevalence of and factors related to hikikomori between teenagers/young adults and middle-aged/older adults. METHODS We distributed self-administered questionnaires to individual participants and their families between 24 December 2020 and 18 January 2021. RESULTS Data from an anonymised sample of 3,092 individuals (split into two groups of 15-39 and 40-64 years) were subjected to analysis. The results revealed a hikikomori prevalence of 2.3% in the target population; the prevalence rate was 2.12% among individuals aged 15 to 39 years and 2.42% among those aged 40 to 64 years. The analysis demonstrated strong correlations between hikikomori and several factors, including unemployment, truancy, a history of psychiatric consultation or hospitalisation, being male and the absence of ibasho, which is defined as a place where individuals can feel peace, security, acceptance and belonging. The factors associated with hikikomori differed between teenagers/young adults and middle-aged/older adults. CONCLUSION Our findings, thus, contribute to existing research by providing a comparative analysis of risk factors across different age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Kanai
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
- Osaka University Health and Counseling Center, Toyonaka, Japan
| | - Yuri Kitamura
- Department of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
- Osaka Mental Health Center, Japan
| | - Ling Zha
- Department of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Kenta Tanaka
- Department of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
- Sumitomo Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Manabu Ikeda
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Tomotaka Sobue
- Department of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
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Hai R, Wong PWC. Emerging trends in Hikikomori behaviour among young people in China: Implications for research and policy. Asian J Psychiatr 2024; 93:103925. [PMID: 38232442 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2024.103925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ri Hai
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
| | - Paul Wai-Ching Wong
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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Jia H, Min Z, Yiyun C, Zhiguo W, Yousong S, Feng J, Na Z, Yiru F, Daihui P. Association between social withdrawal and suicidal ideation in patients with major depressive disorder: The mediational role of emotional symptoms. J Affect Disord 2024; 347:69-76. [PMID: 37992770 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.11.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study was designed to investigate the associations between social withdrawal, emotional symptoms, and suicide ideation in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS This cross-sectional study included 2678 MDD patients from the National Survey on Symptomatology of Depression (NSSD). Differences in the sociodemographic factors, clinical characteristics, suicide ideation, and emotional symptoms were compared in patients with different frequencies of social withdrawal. Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression analysis, and mediation analysis were employed to assess the contribution of social withdrawal to suicide ideation. RESULTS MDD patients with a higher frequency of social withdrawal were prone to have a higher frequency of suicide ideation (p for trend <0.001) and history of suicide behavior (p for trend <0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that there was a dose-response relationship between social withdrawal and suicide ideation in MDD patients, but this association became insignificant after adjusting for emotional symptoms. Mediation analysis suggested that all of the emotional symptoms had significant mediating effects on the association between social withdrawal and suicide ideation in MDD patients (p < 0.05). The magnitude of mediation varied between 4.3 % and 64.3 %, with the largest mediating effect in the feeling of despair (64.3 %), helplessness (41.2 %), and loneliness (40.0 %). CONCLUSION Our study provides evidence that social withdrawal was a common clinical presentation and it may increase the risk for suicide through emotional symptoms in MDD patients. LIMITATIONS Causal conclusions could not be drawn between social withdrawal, emotional symptoms, and suicide ideation because of the cross-sectional design of the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huang Jia
- Division of Mood Disorder, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, PR China
| | - Zhang Min
- Division of Mood Disorder, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, PR China
| | - Cai Yiyun
- Division of Mood Disorder, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, PR China; Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, PR China
| | - Wu Zhiguo
- Division of Mood Disorder, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, PR China
| | - Su Yousong
- Division of Mood Disorder, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, PR China
| | - Jin Feng
- Division of Mood Disorder, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, PR China
| | - Zhu Na
- Division of Mood Disorder, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, PR China; Shanghai Pudong New Area Mental Health Center, Shanghai 200122, PR China
| | - Fang Yiru
- Division of Mood Disorder, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, PR China; Clinical Research Center, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, PR China.
| | - Peng Daihui
- Division of Mood Disorder, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, PR China.
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Uno A, Nagaoka D, Usami S, Yamaguchi S, Minami R, Tanaka R, Sawai Y, Okuma A, Yamasaki S, Miyashita M, Nishida A, Kasai K, Ando S. Suicidal Thoughts and Trajectories of Psychopathological and Behavioral Symptoms in Adolescence. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2353166. [PMID: 38270951 PMCID: PMC10811562 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.53166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance The suicidal risk of psychopathology in adolescence is suggested to differ based on its longitudinal trajectory, but the comorbidity of these symptom trajectories has not been well examined. This study comprehensively clustered trajectories of multiple psychopathological and behavioral symptoms and examined their associations with suicidal thoughts in adolescence. Objective To determine which categories and trajectories of psychopathological and behavioral symptoms are associated with suicidal thoughts in adolescence, accounting for comorbid symptoms. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based cohort study in Japan used data from the Tokyo Teen Cohort (TTC) study, which was established in 2012 and is currently ongoing. Data from 3 waves of surveys conducted at ages 10, 12, and 16 years from October 2012 to September 2021 were used. Of the adolescents in the cohort, participants with at least 2 evaluations of psychopathological and behavioral symptoms were included. Data were analyzed from December 2022 to March 2023. Exposure Latent class growth analysis was used to cluster the trajectory of each psychopathological and behavioral symptom. Main Outcomes and Measures The associations between symptom trajectories and suicidal thoughts at age 16 were examined. Suicidal thoughts were assessed using a self-report questionnaire. Psychopathological and behavioral symptoms were assessed using the 8 subscale scores of the caregiver-report Child Behavior Checklist. Results This study included 2780 adolescents (1306 female participants [47.0%]). Of the 1920 adolescents with data on suicidal thoughts, 158 (8.2%) had suicidal thoughts. The median (IQR) age was 10.2 (10.0-10.3) years at the first evaluation, 11.9 (11.8-12.1) years at the second evaluation, and 16.3 (16.1-16.5) years at the last evaluation. The clustering pattern of trajectories varied depending on symptom categories. After adjusting for each symptom trajectory and confounders, adolescents with persistent high withdrawn symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 1.88; 95% CI, 1.10-3.21) and those with increasing somatic symptoms (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.16-3.34) had a significantly higher risk of suicidal thoughts than adolescents without these symptoms. There was no interaction between these symptom trajectories and the risk of suicidal thoughts. Conclusions and Relevance This cohort study found that persistent withdrawn symptoms and increasing somatic symptoms during early to midadolescence were associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts in midadolescence, even after accounting for comorbid symptoms and confounders. Attention should be paid to the suicidal risk associated with these symptoms, particularly when they persist or increase in the longitudinal follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akito Uno
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daiki Nagaoka
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Usami
- Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Yamaguchi
- Research Center for Social Science and Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rin Minami
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Riki Tanaka
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yutaka Sawai
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ayako Okuma
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Syudo Yamasaki
- Research Center for Social Science and Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Miyashita
- Research Center for Social Science and Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Nishida
- Research Center for Social Science and Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Kasai
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuntaro Ando
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Zhu S, Hu Y, Qi D, Qin N, Chi X, Luo J, Wu J, Huang H, Wu Q, Yu L, Ni S, Hamilton K, Tse S. Single-session intervention on growth mindset on negative emotions for university student mental health (U-SIGMA): a protocol of two-armed randomized controlled trial. Trials 2023; 24:713. [PMID: 37940965 PMCID: PMC10631141 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07748-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The university years are a developmentally crucial phase and a peak period for the onset of mental disorders. The beliefs about the changeability of negative emotion may play an important role in help-seeking. The brief digital growth mindset intervention is potentially scalable and acceptable to enhance adaptive coping and help-seeking for mental health needs in university students. We adapted the Single-session Intervention on Growth Mindset for adolescents (SIGMA) to be applied in university students (U-SIGMA). This protocol introduces a two-armed waitlist randomized controlled trial study to examine the effectiveness and acceptability of U-SIGMA in promoting help-seeking among university students in the Greater Bay Area. METHODS University students (N = 250, ages 18-25) from universities in the Greater Bay Area will be randomized to either the brief digital growth mindset intervention group or the waitlist control group. Participants will report on the mindsets of negative emotions, perceived control over anxiety, attitude toward help-seeking, physical activity, hopelessness, psychological well-being, depression, anxiety, and perceived stress at baseline and the 2-week and 8-week follow-ups through web-based surveys. A 30-min digital intervention will be implemented in the intervention group, with a pre- and post-intervention survey collecting intervention feedback, while the control group will receive the link for intervention after 8 weeks. DISCUSSION This protocol introduces the implementation plan of U-SIMGA in multi-cities of the Greater Bay Area. The findings are expected to help provide pioneer evidence for the effectiveness and acceptability of the brief digital intervention for university students in the Chinese context and beyond and contribute to the development of accessible and effective prevention and early intervention for university students' mental health. TRIAL REGISTRATION HKU Clinical Trials Registry: HKUCTR-3012; Registered 14 April 2023. http://www.hkuctr.com/Study/Show/7a3ffbc0e03f4d1eac0525450fc5187e .
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Affiliation(s)
- Shimin Zhu
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Mental Health Research Centre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Yuxi Hu
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Di Qi
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Nan Qin
- School of Public Administration, Guangdong University of Finance & Economics, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinli Chi
- Institute of Mental Health, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiawen Luo
- Mental Health Education Center, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Wu
- Mental Health Education Center, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hua Huang
- Faculty of Education, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, China
| | - Qiaobing Wu
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lu Yu
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shiguang Ni
- Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kyra Hamilton
- School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, QLD, Australia
| | - Samson Tse
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Fong TC, Yip PS. Prevalence of hikikomori and associations with suicidal ideation, suicide stigma, and help-seeking among 2,022 young adults in Hong Kong. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2023; 69:1768-1780. [PMID: 37191282 DOI: 10.1177/00207640231174376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Young adults are at elevated risks of hikikomori (severe social withdrawal) under the COVID-19 pandemic, which could lead to psychological distress and suicidal ideation. AIMS The present study aimed to examine the associations among hikikomori, suicide stigma, suicidal ideation, and help-seeking behaviors among young adults in Hong Kong. METHOD This study recruited a large sample of 2,022 young adults in Hong Kong via an online survey at the end of 2021. The participants completed the Hikikomori Questionnaire and validated measures on psychological distress, suicide stigma, and suicidal ideation severity and report their help-seeking behaviors. Multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to compare the profiles of the hikikomori groups. Path analysis evaluated the effects of hikikomori and suicide stigma on occurrence and severity of suicidal ideation and their associations with help-seeking behaviors. RESULTS Hikikomori showed significant and positive indirect effects on prevalence and severity of suicidal ideation via psychological distress. Glorification positively predicted hikikomori and suicidal ideation severity among suicidal persons. Hikikomori was associated with reduced help-seeking. Isolation and suicidal ideation were associated with greater barriers to seek help among the non-help-seekers. Perceived helpfulness of sought help was negatively associated with hikikomori and suicidal ideation among the help-seekers. CONCLUSIONS The present findings demonstrated greater prevalence and severity of suicidal ideation and less help-seeking in young adults with hikikomori. Suicide stigma showed differential associations with hikikomori, suicidal ideation, and help-seeking behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ted Ct Fong
- Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Paul Sf Yip
- HKJC Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, University of Hong Kong, China
- Dept of Social Work & Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, China
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Amendola S, Cerutti R, von Wyl A. Estimating the prevalence and characteristics of people in severe social isolation in 29 European countries: A secondary analysis of data from the European Social Survey round 9 (2018-2020). PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291341. [PMID: 37699030 PMCID: PMC10497126 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The main aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of people in severe social isolation as a proxy for high risk of hikikomori using data from 29 European countries. The relationship between the presence/absence of severe social isolation and demographic and psychosocial variables was also investigated. Publicly available data from the European Social Survey (ESS) round 9 collected between August 2018 and January 2020 were used. Data from the ESS round 1 (September 2002 -December 2003) and round 10 (September 2020 -May 2022) were also examined to investigate changes in the prevalence of severe social isolation over time. Analyses were restricted to the working-age population (15-64 years). A complex sampling design to obtain weighted prevalence and results was used. The study protocol was preregistered online on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/6a7br/). The weighted prevalence of severe social isolation was 2.01% for the sample from the ESS 1, 1.77% for the sample from the ESS 9, and 1.71% for the sample from the ESS 10, indicating a decrease over time, mainly in males. Logistic regression models showed that different sociodemographic factors (e.g., being retired, being permanently sick or disabled, doing housework, living in Central and Eastern Europe, living uncomfortably on household income, having no income) were associated with severe social isolation. Further, feeling unsafe when walking alone in the neighbourhood after dark, low social trust, and support, decreased happiness and lack of future planning correlated with severe social isolation after adjustment for the effect of sociodemographic factors was made. In this study, the prevalence of severe social isolation as a proxy for hikikomori in European countries is in line with that found by previous representative studies conducted in Asian countries. The novelty of the findings as well as implications for hikikomori research are discussed according to recent scientific literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Amendola
- Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rita Cerutti
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Health Studies, Sapienza–University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnes von Wyl
- Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
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Rubio-Belmonte C, Mayordomo Rodríguez T, García-Alandete J. Psychometric properties of the Purpose In Life-Short Form in the Spanish population. J Clin Psychol 2023; 79:1099-1112. [PMID: 36417619 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Purpose in Life Test-Short Form (PIL-SF), a brief self-report measure of the presence of meaning in life (MiL). Participants were 349 nonclinical Spanish undergraduates (225 women, 64.5%, and 124 men, 35.5%), age ranged between 18 and 26 years (M = 20.85; SD = 2.16). The PIL-SF, the Seeking of Noetic Goals-8 Items (SONG-8), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) were used. Descriptive analysis, estimation of the internal consistency, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the PIL-SF were conducted, and correlations between the PIL-SF and the SONG-8, the SWLS, and the OHQ were calculated. The PIL-SF showed good internal consistency and an excellent fit as a unidimensional scale confirming its factorial structure. Regarding construct validity, correlations between the PIL-SF and SWLS (r= 0.59) and OHQ (r = 0.56) were positive, significant (p < 0.001), while correlation between PIL-SF and SONG-8 was negative, significant (r = -0.23, p < 0.001). The Spanish adaptation of PIL-SF seems to be a valid measure of MiL with good internal consistency.
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Affiliation(s)
- César Rubio-Belmonte
- Department of Occupational Science, Speech Therapy, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Universidad Católica de Valencia "San Vicente Mártir", Valencia, Spain
| | - Teresa Mayordomo Rodríguez
- Department of Neuropsychobiology, Methodology, and Social and Basic Psychology, Universidad Católica de Valencia "San Vicente Mártir", Valencia, Spain
| | - Joaquín García-Alandete
- Dpto. de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamientos Psicológicos, Facultad de Psicología y Logopedia, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
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Leigh E, Chiu K, Ballard ED. Social Anxiety and Suicidality in Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2023; 51:441-454. [PMID: 36525228 PMCID: PMC10017648 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-022-00996-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Suicide is a leading cause of death among young people every year. Identifying risk factors provides opportunities to intervene, and social anxiety may represent one such factor. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to review the evidence of associations between social anxiety and suicidality in youth (10-25 years). Embase, PsycInfo, and Medline were searched to identify relevant articles. Meta-analysis was conducted to examine the mean effect sizes of concurrent and prospective associations between social anxiety and three indices of suicidality in adolescents aged 10-25 years. Meta-analyses of 16 studies showed that social anxiety was associated cross-sectionally with suicide attempt (r = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.15), suicidal ideation (r = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.41), and suicide risk (r = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.41), and prospectively at trend level with suicidal ideation (r = 0.62, 95% CI: -0.03, 0.90). An examination of the prospective associations with suicide attempt and risk was not possible due to a lack of studies. Several studies suggested that results could not be solely attributed to depressive symptoms. A high level of heterogeneity was observed in each meta-analysis. Moderation analysis was possible for gender and publication year only; neither was significant. Findings provide further evidence of a link between social anxiety and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth but are limited by the small number of studies of mixed quality. This review supports future research into social anxiety symptoms as potential risk factors and treatment targets for suicidal youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Leigh
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Kenny Chiu
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - Elizabeth D Ballard
- Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Khiatani S, Liu D, Yeo BSS, Wong JCM. Reaching hidden youth in Singapore through the Hidden Youth Intervention Program: A biopsychosocial approach integrating mental health and social work interventions. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1133659. [PMID: 37009115 PMCID: PMC10061831 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1133659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hidden youth are youth who withdraw from society for at least 6 months, physically isolating within their homes or rooms. There has been a steady rise in this phenomenon across many developed countries, and this trend is expected to continue. As hidden youths often present with complex psychopathology and psychosocial issues, multi-factorial intervention approaches are recommended. To reach this isolated population and address gaps in services, a community mental health service and a youth social work team collaborated to develop the first specialized intervention for hidden youth in Singapore. This pilot intervention combines components from Hikikomori treatment models from Japan and Hong Kong, and a treatment program for isolated individuals diagnosed with Internet Gaming Disorder. This paper describes the development of the pilot intervention model- a four-stage biopsychosocial intervention targeting the complex needs of hidden youth and their families- and illustrates its implementation and challenges faced through a case study. Based on 2 years of service delivery to 25 youths, good practices such as utilizing novel outreach strategies and the importance of involving and caring for caregivers are also highlighted. Preliminary outcomes of this ongoing pilot intervention indicate reductions in social withdrawal behavior and increased engagement in school or work, especially for youth at the final stage of intervention. Strengths of the program include its multi-disciplinary and flexible nature, and the whole-family approach. Limitations of this program included a lack of information on Singaporean hidden youth and the lack of quantitative outcome data of this pilot program. In future, we aim to further enhance program elements through collaboration with international and local partners, and to develop an evaluative framework to determine program effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Khiatani
- Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- *Correspondence: Sonia Khiatani
| | - Denise Liu
- Strategic Planning and Research Department, Fei Yue Community Services, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - John Chee Meng Wong
- Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Contemporary Hermits: A Developmental Psychopathology Account of Extreme Social Withdrawal (Hikikomori) in Young People. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2023; 26:459-481. [PMID: 36653555 PMCID: PMC9848719 DOI: 10.1007/s10567-023-00425-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Although it is widely accepted that human beings have an ingrained 'need to belong,' there seem to be a substantial subset of young people who seclude themselves for most of the time at home and no longer engage in education or work, ultimately withdrawing from participation in society. In Japan, this phenomenon has been labeled as 'hikikomori,' but given its global presence it may be preferable to use the term 'extreme social withdrawal' (ESW). In this qualitative review, we provide a description and definition of ESW, provide figures on its prevalence, and discuss a number of associated concepts, including loneliness and "aloneliness," school absenteeism and dropout, the 'new' developmental stage of adultolescence, and the labor force categories of freeter ('freelance arbeiter') and NEET (a young person not in employment, education, or training). The core of the paper is focused on the origins of ESW in young people and provides a narrative overview of relevant etiological factors, such as aberrant brain processes, unfavorable temperament, psychiatric conditions, adverse family processes including detrimental parenting, negative peer experiences, societal pressures, and excessive internet and digital media use, which are all placed within a comprehensive developmental psychopathology framework. We will close with a discussion of possible interventions for young people with ESW and formulate a guideline that describes (the temporal order of) various components that need to be included in such a treatment.
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Cannas Aghedu F, Blais M, Philibert M, Côté I, Samoilenko M, Chamberland L. Social resource patterns and health outcomes among Canadian LGBTQ2+ adults: A latent class analysis. Soc Sci Med 2022; 314:115476. [PMID: 36327629 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Decades of research have shown a strong association between wellbeing, health, and social resources. LGBTQ2+ communities are among those who historically have been excluded from accessing quality social resources. However, little is known about how access to different types of resources influences mental health and wellbeing. METHOD Data were drawn from an online sample of 3890 LGBTQ2+ people aged 18 years and older in Quebec, Canada. We identified key social resource patterns (from family of origin, friends, partner, neighbourhood, and LGBTQ2+ community) and investigated differences in socio-demographic and health outcomes across classes. RESULTS A five-class solution best fitted the data, highlighting distinctive patterns in access to five key social resources: moderate friend support access (42.14%), overall high support access (23.51%), high friend support access (18.06%), only close ties support access (10.90%) and overall low support access (5.39%). Marginalized groups (trans and non-binary people, racialized or disabled people, immigrants) were less likely to access diverse, high-quality social resources. Accessing diverse social resources, particularly close ties (e.g., family of origin), was associated with better health outcomes. In the absence of close ties, having at least one other social resource was associated with better health outcomes compared to having limited access to all resources. CONCLUSIONS We found a major imbalance in social resource access among LGBTQ2+ people. Creating safe spaces for LGBTQ2+ people and ensuring access to high-quality social resources is important in sustaining their health and wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Cannas Aghedu
- Chaire de Recherche sur La Diversité Sexuelle et La Pluralité des Genres, Université Du Québec à Montréal, Canada.
| | - Martin Blais
- Chaire de Recherche sur La Diversité Sexuelle et La Pluralité des Genres, Université Du Québec à Montréal, Canada; Département de Sexologie, Université Du Québec à Montréal, Canada
| | | | - Isabel Côté
- Département de Travail Social, Chaire de Recherche Du Canada sur La Procréation pour Autrui et Les Liens Familiaux, Université Du Québec en Outaouais, Québec, Canada
| | - Mariia Samoilenko
- Chaire de Recherche sur La Diversité Sexuelle et La Pluralité des Genres, Université Du Québec à Montréal, Canada
| | - Line Chamberland
- Chaire de Recherche sur La Diversité Sexuelle et La Pluralité des Genres, Université Du Québec à Montréal, Canada; Département de Sexologie, Université Du Québec à Montréal, Canada
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