2019 Volume 60 Issue 2 Pages 180-190
In recent years, the spread of smartphones has given children and adolescents easy access to the Internet and games. Internet addiction can cause poor academic achievement and may lead to truancy, which could progress on to complete social withdrawal―a psychological condition known as ‘hikikomori’ in Japanese. Intervention for hikikomori begins with family support or individual therapy, followed by support in creating places the individual can find a sense of belonging (ibasho), and on to learning/work support aimed at increasing social participation. On the other hand, associations between Internet addiction and developmental disorders have been reported, for which cognitive behavior therapy and treatment camps are being incorporated for treatment. However, there are many regions that are as yet unequipped to offer such treatment and support. This paper provides an overview of existing literature on the association between hikikomori and Internet addiction, alongside report on the author's regional approach to these issues.
