Development and validation of the 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ-25)

Alan R. Teo; Jason I. Chen; Hiroaki Kubo; Ryoko Katsuki; Mina Sato-Kasai; Norihiro Shimokawa; Kohei Hayakawa; Wakako Umene-Nakano; James E. Aikens; Shigenobu Kanba; Takahiro A. Kato

doi:10.1111/pcn.12691

Development and validation of the 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ-25)

Alan R. Teo, Jason I. Chen, Hiroaki Kubo, Ryoko Katsuki, Mina Sato-Kasai, Norihiro Shimokawa, Kohei Hayakawa, Wakako Umene-Nakano, James E. Aikens, Shigenobu Kanba, Takahiro A. Kato

Psychiatry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aim: Hikikomori, a form of severe social withdrawal, is an emerging issue in mental health, for which validated measurement tools are lacking. The object was to develop a self-report scale of hikikomori, and assess its psychometric properties and diagnostic accuracy. Methods: A sample of 399 participants from clinical and community settings completed measures. Psychometric properties were assessed with factor analysis; diagnostic accuracy was compared against a semi-structured diagnostic interview. Results: The Hikikomori Questionnaire contained 25 items across three subscales representing socialization, isolation, and emotional support. Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and convergent validity were all satisfactory. The area under the curve was 0.86 (95% confidence interval, 0.80–0.92). A cut-off score of 42 (out of 100) was associated with a sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 61%, and positive predictive value of 17%. Conclusion: The 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ-25) possesses robust psychometric properties and diagnostic accuracy in an initial sample of Japanese adults. Additional research on its psychometric properties and ability to support clinical assessment of hikikomori is warranted.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	780-788
Number of pages	9
Journal	Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
Volume	72
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/pcn.12691
State	Published - Oct 2018

Keywords

cultural syndrome
diagnosis
mental health
psychometric
social isolation
social withdrawal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Neuroscience
Neurology
Clinical Neurology
Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.1111/pcn.12691

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title = "Development and validation of the 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ-25)",

abstract = "Aim: Hikikomori, a form of severe social withdrawal, is an emerging issue in mental health, for which validated measurement tools are lacking. The object was to develop a self-report scale of hikikomori, and assess its psychometric properties and diagnostic accuracy. Methods: A sample of 399 participants from clinical and community settings completed measures. Psychometric properties were assessed with factor analysis; diagnostic accuracy was compared against a semi-structured diagnostic interview. Results: The Hikikomori Questionnaire contained 25 items across three subscales representing socialization, isolation, and emotional support. Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and convergent validity were all satisfactory. The area under the curve was 0.86 (95% confidence interval, 0.80–0.92). A cut-off score of 42 (out of 100) was associated with a sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 61%, and positive predictive value of 17%. Conclusion: The 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ-25) possesses robust psychometric properties and diagnostic accuracy in an initial sample of Japanese adults. Additional research on its psychometric properties and ability to support clinical assessment of hikikomori is warranted.",

keywords = "cultural syndrome, diagnosis, mental health, psychometric, social isolation, social withdrawal",

author = "Teo, {Alan R.} and Chen, {Jason I.} and Hiroaki Kubo and Ryoko Katsuki and Mina Sato-Kasai and Norihiro Shimokawa and Kohei Hayakawa and Wakako Umene-Nakano and Aikens, {James E.} and Shigenobu Kanba and Kato, {Takahiro A.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 The Authors. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology",

year = "2018",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1111/pcn.12691",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "72",

pages = "780--788",

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AU - Chen, Jason I.

AU - Kubo, Hiroaki

AU - Katsuki, Ryoko

AU - Sato-Kasai, Mina

AU - Shimokawa, Norihiro

AU - Hayakawa, Kohei

AU - Umene-Nakano, Wakako

AU - Aikens, James E.

AU - Kanba, Shigenobu

AU - Kato, Takahiro A.

PY - 2018/10

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AB - Aim: Hikikomori, a form of severe social withdrawal, is an emerging issue in mental health, for which validated measurement tools are lacking. The object was to develop a self-report scale of hikikomori, and assess its psychometric properties and diagnostic accuracy. Methods: A sample of 399 participants from clinical and community settings completed measures. Psychometric properties were assessed with factor analysis; diagnostic accuracy was compared against a semi-structured diagnostic interview. Results: The Hikikomori Questionnaire contained 25 items across three subscales representing socialization, isolation, and emotional support. Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and convergent validity were all satisfactory. The area under the curve was 0.86 (95% confidence interval, 0.80–0.92). A cut-off score of 42 (out of 100) was associated with a sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 61%, and positive predictive value of 17%. Conclusion: The 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ-25) possesses robust psychometric properties and diagnostic accuracy in an initial sample of Japanese adults. Additional research on its psychometric properties and ability to support clinical assessment of hikikomori is warranted.

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Development and validation of the 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ-25)

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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