What is Hidden Youth?
Definition:
Hidden Youth is a Japanese term “Hikikomori(ひきこもり or 引き籠もり)” to refer to the phenomenon of reclusive adolescents or adults who withdraw from social life, often seeking extreme degrees of isolation and confinement.
Expression:
Apparent reluctance to participate in "normal" interpersonal contacts of day to day life and retreat into one's own comfort zone.
(Association of Relatives And Friends of the Mentally Ill, Australia )
In Japan, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare defines Hikikomori as people who refuse to leave their house and, thus, isolate themselves from society in their homes for a period exceeding six months. |
In Hong Kong, the term Hidden Youth is interpreted as “隱蔽青年” or “隱青”. (Hong Kong Christian Service LET"S Walk〈Life Engagement Training Scheme〉香港基督教服务処『有网能量』青年导航及发展中心) |
6 criteria to be diagnosed as Hidden Youth:
1. The person spends most of the day and nearly every day confined to home.
2. Marked and persistent avoidance of social situations (e.g., attending school, working) and social relationships (e.g., friendships, contact with family members).
3. The social withdrawal and avoidance interferes significantly with the person’s normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or social activities or relationships.
4. The person perceives the withdrawal as ego-syntonic.
5. In individuals aged less than 18 years old, the duration is at least 6 months
6. The social withdrawal and avoidance are not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as social phobia (e.g., avoidance of social situations because of fear of embarrassment), major depressive disorder (e.g., avoidance of social situations as a reflection of neurovegetative symptoms), schizophrenia (e.g., isolation because of negative symptoms of psychosis), or avoidant personality disorder (e.g., isolation because of fears of criticism or rejection)
(Source: The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, Volume 198, Number 6, June 2010)
1. The person spends most of the day and nearly every day confined to home.
2. Marked and persistent avoidance of social situations (e.g., attending school, working) and social relationships (e.g., friendships, contact with family members).
3. The social withdrawal and avoidance interferes significantly with the person’s normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or social activities or relationships.
4. The person perceives the withdrawal as ego-syntonic.
5. In individuals aged less than 18 years old, the duration is at least 6 months
6. The social withdrawal and avoidance are not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as social phobia (e.g., avoidance of social situations because of fear of embarrassment), major depressive disorder (e.g., avoidance of social situations as a reflection of neurovegetative symptoms), schizophrenia (e.g., isolation because of negative symptoms of psychosis), or avoidant personality disorder (e.g., isolation because of fears of criticism or rejection)
(Source: The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, Volume 198, Number 6, June 2010)
Contact us – Hong Kong Hidden Youth Association
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