Autism and Hikikomori Risk: A Link Beyond Other Psychopathologies, and Their Relationship to Loneliness and Solitude

Purpose This study aimed to further investigate the relationship between autism and hikikomori, an extreme form of social withdrawal. Methods A sample of 323 adolescents and adults aged 12-59 years, with (n = 64) and without ASD (n = 259), completed self-report measures assessing hikikomori symptoms, related psychopathology, loneliness, and attitudes toward solitude. A subsample (n = 177: 40 with and 137 without ASD) also completed a validated scale for measuring autistic traits. Results Findings revealed that individuals with ASD displayed significantly higher levels of extreme social withdrawal and were nearly 10 times more likely to exceed the clinical threshold for hikikomori than non-clinical individuals. Autistic traits were significantly and positively correlated with hikikomori symptoms, even after controlling for comorbid psychopathology. Additionally, both ASD and hikikomori were associated with increased loneliness and a stronger preference for solitude. Conclusion These results highlight autism's contribution to extreme social withdrawal and emphasize the complex interplay between neurodevelopmental vulnerability, isolation, and social affiliation needs.