Effect of Psychological Support for Families with Individuals Experiencing Hikikomori: A Systematic Review of the Approaches for Improving Hikikomori

Abstract

Psychological support aimed at improving hikikomori often requires indirect support for the families of individuals with this problem, particularly in the initial stage. However, it has not been clarifıed what specific factors of family support affect the improvement of hikikomori. The purpose of this systematic review was a preliminary examination of the effects of psychological intervention for the families in order to improve the state of hikikomori. We included psychological support studies for the family members of hikikomori individuals, which were published in Japanese or English peer-reviewed journals, and examined the improvement of hikikomori pre- and post-psychological support. Ten studies involving 148 participants met our inclusion criteria. Results of a chi-square test showed that approaches including “increasing behavioral repertoire of coping” or “changing family interaction” showed more improvements than those approaches not including them. In the future, it will be necessary to accumulate findings through assessment and intervention studies that focus on the approaches of behavioral repertoire regarding coping with hikikomori and family interaction. In addition, the process of improvement needs to be clarified.