The figure is actually lower than was estimated in the 2010 cabinet office survey, when 696,000 were thought to be suffering from hikikomori. However, those who do withdraw are doing so for longer, according to the study, as those who have shut themselves in their homes for at least seven years accounted for 35 per cent of the total. Doctors believe psychological and cultural influences combine to make young people feel they need to withdraw entirely.The condition is far more common in men, who face huge pressures to succeed early in life, both at school and in their careers. But psychologists say this is not caused by laziness. One study in 2015 found documented cases of hikikomori-style social reclusion in the US, China, and Spain among other countries.

Source: Times of India September 27, 2016 13:58 UTC