Hikikomori Phenomenon in a Cultural Context: A Case Study on Extreme Social Isolation in Indonesia

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-966-7_13How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Cultural Context; Hikikomori; Indonesia; Social Withdrawal

Abstract

Hikikomori, a phenomenon of severe social withdrawal characterized by prolonged confinement and isolation, was initially identified in Japan but is increasingly recognized globally. This paper presents a case study examining Hikikomori within the specific cultural context of Indonesia. Traditional Indonesian society emphasizes strong communal bonds, family interdependence, and social harmony. This study explores how these cultural values may interact with and shape the manifestation, experience, and understanding of Hikikomori, highlighting the potential influence of cultural expectations on individuals. A 22-year-old male progressively withdrew for 18 months, following discontinuation of vocational training. He spent nearly all his time confined to his room, with minimal communication, even for basic needs, and relied entirely on his parents for support. This extreme social isolation involved severing all former friendships and engaging only in solitary online activities. His parents reported increasing withdrawal, quietness, and apparent sadness, alongside a loss of interest and fatigue. While no prior psychiatric history was noted, the prolonged confinement, lack of social engagement, and reported low mood strongly suggest a diagnosis of Hikikomori, potentially complicated by depression, warranting further investigation. Hikikomori is no longer just a Japanese issue; it had become a global challenge, with rising cases in countries like Indonesia. A recent case in Jakarta highlighted how societal pressure, unstable finances, and excessive screen time can lead young people to retreat from the world. As mental health awareness lags and family expectations weigh heavily, there is a pressing need for Indonesia to develop culturally relevant solutions and support systems.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Silvia Azzahra
AU  - Mustafa M. Amin
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/25
TI  - Hikikomori Phenomenon in a Cultural Context: A Case Study on Extreme Social Isolation in Indonesia
BT  - Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Neuroscience, Neurology, and Psychiatry 2025 (ICONAP 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 80
EP  - 86
SN  - 2468-5739
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-966-7_13
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-966-7_13
ID  - Azzahra2025
ER  -