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Shut-in

A shut-in is an individual confined indoors, typically to their home or a limited space, due to physical illness, disability, or psychological conditions that severely restrict or prevent leaving for daily activities.^[1]^[2] This confinement often results in restricted community participation and social engagement, with empirical data linking it to chronic health issues that impair mobility and independence.^[3] The phenomenon manifests in both involuntary cases, such as those stemming from frailty in the elderly—estimated at around 2 million homebound older adults in the United States—and more elective or psychogenic withdrawals among younger demographics, where avoidance of external pressures leads to prolonged isolation.^[4] Defining characteristics include persistent indoor dwelling, minimal interpersonal contact, and reliance on delivered essentials, frequently exacerbated by comorbid mental health factors like anxiety or depression rather than purely physical barriers.^[5] Causal factors, drawn from clinical observations, often trace to unmet developmental needs, societal failures in integration, or enabling technologies that sustain detachment without immediate consequences, though rigorous longitudinal studies remain limited outside specific cultural contexts.^[6] Notable in modern epidemiology, shut-in behaviors parallel rising social withdrawal syndromes globally, with prevalence rates for analogous conditions reaching 1-2% in surveyed populations, particularly in aging or high-pressure societies, underscoring risks of functional decline and heightened mortality from untreated isolation.^[7]^[8] Interventions typically emphasize gradual reintegration via therapy or support services, though outcomes vary due to underlying etiologies and individual motivation, highlighting debates over pathologizing adaptive retreats versus addressing root societal disincentives for engagement.^[9]

Human Condition

Definition and Characteristics

A shut-in refers to an individual confined to their home, a specific room, or bed, typically owing to physical illness, disability, or psychological aversion to external engagement.^[10] This confinement manifests as a deliberate or compelled avoidance of venturing outdoors, distinguishing it from temporary indoor stays by its persistence over weeks, months, or years.^[1] The term originates from late 14th-century English phrasing implying isolation or enclosure, evolving to describe both involuntary restriction—such as mobility impairments—and voluntary withdrawal driven by introversion or social discomfort.^[11] Key characteristics encompass profound social isolation, with affected individuals limiting interactions to immediate family or digital means, often relying on delivered essentials for daily needs.^[12] Psychologically, shut-ins may exhibit traits of excessive withdrawal, including heightened introversion, avoidance of public spaces, and reduced capacity for interpersonal relations, sometimes predating severe mental disorders like schizophrenia in early 20th-century observations.^[13] Physically, this lifestyle correlates with sedentary habits, potential nutritional deficits from limited fresh food access, and exacerbated health decline if underlying conditions persist untreated. Empirical descriptions, though sparse outside culturally specific analogs, highlight patterns of emotional suppression and attachment difficulties as sustaining factors.^[14] In contrast to formal diagnoses, "shut-in" lacks codified criteria in psychiatric manuals like the DSM, serving instead as a descriptive label applicable across etiologies from agoraphobia-induced fear to chronic debility.^[6] This breadth differentiates it from phenomena like Japanese hikikomori, where withdrawal is predominantly psychosocial, involving near-total room-bound seclusion without proportional physical limitation, often rooted in cultural pressures and self-perceived failure.^[15] Shut-ins, by extension, may include elderly or infirm persons housebound by necessity rather than acute rejection of societal norms.^[16]

Historical Context and Evolution

The term "shut-in" first appeared in English in the 1840s, with the earliest recorded use in 1849, denoting a person confined indoors due to physical illness, injury, or disability that restricted mobility.^[17] This usage emphasized involuntary seclusion stemming from somatic conditions, such as chronic diseases or incapacities that barred individuals from public life, rather than elective or mental origins.^[10] In 19th-century contexts, shut-ins were often invalids reliant on family or rudimentary welfare, with literary and medical references portraying them as bedridden patients enduring prolonged isolation without modern therapeutic interventions.^[18] By the late 19th century, mutual aid groups emerged to address shut-ins' isolation, exemplified by the Shut-In Society founded in 1877 by Jennie Drinkwater, which connected physically disabled individuals through correspondence to foster emotional support and combat monotony.^[19] Similar organizations, like the Society for the Entertainment of Shut-ins established around 1908, organized entertainments and visits for hospital-bound or home-confined patients, reflecting societal recognition of the psychological toll of physical confinement amid limited medical options.^[20] Into the early 20th century, particularly the 1920s, shut-ins featured prominently in U.S. policy discussions on technology's role in rehabilitation; radio broadcasts were hailed as a "blessed boon" for integrating these primarily physically impaired individuals into cultural and social spheres without requiring physical presence.^[21] The concept's evolution accelerated with the rise of modern psychology in the early 20th century, expanding beyond physical etiology to incorporate behavioral and temperamental dimensions. Psychiatric classifications, such as Emil Kraepelin's descriptions of dementia praecox (precursor to schizophrenia), referenced "shut-in" traits like introversion and self-absorption as core features of certain subtypes, marking a shift toward viewing seclusion as intertwined with personality or early mental disorders rather than solely bodily frailty.^[13] Post-World War II, amid growing awareness of anxiety disorders and agoraphobia formalized in the DSM (first edition, 1952), the term increasingly applied to non-physical withdrawals, where individuals avoided society due to fear or depression despite physical capability.^[22] This broadening paralleled global observations, such as Japan's hikikomori phenomenon noted from the 1970s, involving acute social retreat among youth, though the English "shut-in" retained its connotation of imposed limitation over purely voluntary hermitage.^[9] By the late 20th century, diagnostic frameworks treated extreme shut-in behavior as symptomatic of conditions like avoidant personality disorder, reflecting causal attributions to both neurobiological vulnerabilities and environmental stressors, distinct from the era's earlier focus on immutable physical constraints.^[22]

Causes and Contributing Factors

Mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, are primary contributors to shut-in behavior, often manifesting as avoidance of social interactions due to overwhelming fear or low motivation. Empirical studies on social withdrawal indicate that conditions like social anxiety disorder and agoraphobia frequently precipitate prolonged isolation, with agoraphobia specifically linked to panic disorder where individuals fear situations perceived as escape-proof, leading to homebound confinement.^[23]^[24] In hikikomori cases—a severe form of social withdrawal analogous to shut-in status—research identifies high levels of depression, anxiety, and neuroticism as correlating strongly with withdrawal tendencies, exacerbated by dysfunctional coping mechanisms such as self-blame.^[25]^[26] Physical health impairments also drive shut-in outcomes by limiting mobility or requiring home-based care. Chronic diseases or disabilities, such as severe mobility restrictions from conditions like multiple sclerosis or post-stroke recovery, confine individuals indoors, with data showing elevated isolation risks among those with ongoing physical challenges.^[27] Marginalization factors, including discrimination or socioeconomic barriers, compound this by reducing access to supportive environments, though these often interact with underlying health vulnerabilities rather than acting in isolation.^[27] Environmental and developmental influences further contribute, including adverse childhood experiences like maltreatment or over-controlling parenting, which foster insecure attachments and heighten vulnerability to withdrawal.^[28]^[29] Family dynamics, such as poor parent-child communication, alongside external stressors like academic pressure or unemployment, are documented risk factors in East Asian contexts but apply broadly to modern withdrawal patterns.^[30]^[31] Excessive internet use emerges as a reinforcing factor, enabling virtual substitution for real-world engagement while predicting sustained isolation.^[30] Gender disparities show males at higher risk, potentially due to societal expectations around independence.^[32] Pandemic-related disruptions, such as COVID-19 lockdowns, have amplified these factors by increasing withdrawal risks through reduced外出 and heightened anxiety, with studies noting associations with prolonged home confinement independent of pre-existing conditions.^[33] While psychiatric disorders like developmental or substance-related issues elevate susceptibility, causal pathways often involve bidirectional reinforcement where initial avoidance entrenches further isolation.^[34]

Prevalence and Global Statistics

The prevalence of shut-ins, often characterized by prolonged voluntary confinement to one's home and avoidance of social interactions outside the family, is most rigorously documented in Japan under the related concept of hikikomori, defined as social withdrawal lasting six months or more. A 2020 Japanese Cabinet Office survey estimated over 1 million individuals aged 15-64 experiencing hikikomori, representing approximately 1.5% of that demographic. ^[35] Earlier surveys reported 696,000 cases among those aged 15-39 in 2010 and 541,000 overall in 2016, with lifetime prevalence in the general population estimated at 1.2%. ^[36] These figures vary by diagnostic criteria and sampling, with some studies reporting rates as low as 0.87% in broad populations but up to 26% in high-risk subgroups like psychiatric patients. ^[36] Outside Japan, data is sparser and often relies on analogous measures of extreme social withdrawal or homebound status, which may include physical limitations alongside psychological factors. In South Korea, a 2024 survey found significant reclusiveness among youth, with 6.1% reporting isolation exceeding 10 years, though comprehensive national prevalence remains understudied. ^[37] Globally, a 2024 meta-analysis of hikikomori-like conditions across studies yielded an overall prevalence of 8.0% (95% CI: 4.9%-12.9%), but this aggregates diverse samples including adolescents and clinical groups, not general populations, and shows no significant regional differences between East Asia and elsewhere. ^[38] In Western contexts, such as the United States, no large-scale epidemiological data exists specifically for shut-in behavior, but surveys of young adults report lifetime episodes of severe withdrawal in 4.3% to 15.8%, potentially undercounting due to cultural stigma and lack of standardized screening. ^[39] Homebound prevalence, a broader proxy that includes shut-ins but often emphasizes older adults with mobility issues, provides additional context. In the US, national estimates rose from 5.6% of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries in 2011 to 13% by 2020, driven partly by pandemic effects, with 22% affected (including semi-homebound) in 2022. ^[40] ^[41] ^[42] Internationally, rates among older adults range from 4.2% to 65% depending on age, socioeconomic factors, and definition, with higher figures in rural or low-mobility populations like 10.4% in rural Japan. ^[43] ^[44] These estimates highlight methodological challenges, including self-report biases and conflation with loneliness (affecting 1 in 6 globally), underscoring the need for cross-culturally validated metrics to capture shut-in dynamics beyond regional hotspots. ^[45]

Psychological and Physical Health Effects

Prolonged social withdrawal in shut-in individuals is empirically associated with elevated risks of depression and anxiety disorders, often exacerbated by the absence of interpersonal support and routine external stimuli. A 2022 study of hikikomori risk factors found positive correlations between withdrawal tendencies and both depression and anxiety scores, alongside negative correlations with overall well-being and resilience.^[35] Similarly, case-control analyses indicate that shut-in youth exhibit higher neuroticism, self-blame, and behavioral disengagement, contributing to persistent low mood and emotional dysregulation.^[26] These patterns align with broader evidence from social isolation research, where chronic disconnection predicts impaired executive function, accelerated cognitive decline, and heightened suicidal ideation, independent of baseline mental health status.^[46] Longitudinal data from lockdown periods further reveal worsening depressive symptoms among those prone to withdrawal, underscoring a causal feedback loop where isolation amplifies rumination and avoidance.^[47] Shut-in lifestyles also correlate with unmet mental health needs, as withdrawal barriers delay access to care, perpetuating cycles of untreated anxiety and comorbid conditions like PTSD.^[48] Meta-analyses of hikikomori cases confirm poorer overall mental functioning, with risks compounded by stigma and familial enabling, though not all individuals develop full disorders—severity of withdrawal duration (often exceeding six months) emerges as a key predictor.^[49] On the physical front, the sedentary habits inherent to shut-in behavior promote obesity, hypertension, and metabolic disturbances through caloric surplus and minimal exertion. A 2019 prospective study of hikikomori youth documented significantly higher obesity rates and elevated blood pressure compared to non-withdrawn peers, attributing these to lifestyles confined to indoor, screen-based activities averaging over 12 hours daily.^[50] Such patterns increase vulnerability to cardiovascular events, with prehypertension risks rising due to disrupted circadian rhythms and poor dietary habits.^[51] Empirical profiles further link long-term isolation to nutritional deficiencies and muscle atrophy from inactivity, amplifying age-related frailty even in younger adults.^[52] While direct causation requires controlling for confounders like pre-existing conditions, observational data consistently show dose-response relationships: longer withdrawal periods yield progressively worse biomarkers, including insulin resistance and inflammation markers.^[53] These health detriments often intersect, as psychological distress from isolation indirectly worsens physical outcomes via disrupted sleep and appetite dysregulation, forming a bidirectional pathway supported by cohort studies.^[54] Interventions addressing both domains, such as gradual exposure therapy, demonstrate potential to mitigate risks, though untreated shut-in states predict chronic multimorbidity.^[55]

Treatment Approaches and Outcomes

Treatment for shut-ins, often conceptualized similarly to hikikomori involving prolonged social withdrawal, typically addresses underlying comorbidities such as social anxiety, depression, or autism spectrum traits through a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Pharmacotherapy targets co-occurring psychiatric conditions, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for anxiety or mood disorders, though evidence specific to withdrawal is limited to case-level support rather than randomized trials.^[9] Psychotherapeutic approaches emphasize cognitive-behavioral techniques, such as internet-delivered cognitive therapy for social anxiety disorder (iCT-SAD), which involves guided online modules on behavioral experiments and attention training, showing remission in social anxiety scores (from severe to subclinical levels) and cessation of withdrawal in individual cases over 14 weeks plus follow-up.^[56] Behavioral and physical activity interventions, like human movement consultation (HMC) incorporating outdoor exercises (walking, running, cycling) and interpersonal sports (table tennis, badminton), have demonstrated feasibility in extended sessions spanning 2-2.5 years, leading to improved functionality such as returning to university after 11 months or securing employment in two young adult males previously isolated for years.^[57] Family-oriented strategies, including home visits by multidisciplinary teams (physicians, psychologists, social workers) and community reinforcement training, aim to reduce enabling dynamics and foster gradual re-engagement, with pilot studies indicating transient reductions in isolation but lacking robust long-term data.^[9] Novel adjuncts, such as jogging therapy, have increased cerebral hemodynamics and supported reintegration in single cases, while animal-assisted or technology-based methods (e.g., robot therapy) show preliminary promise in select contexts like Hong Kong.^[58]^[9] Outcomes remain variable and understudied, with no established evidence-based protocol; most data derive from case reports or small pilots rather than controlled trials, reflecting challenges in recruitment due to avoidance of care (average delay to intervention: 4.4 years).^[9] Early psychotherapy yields better prognoses, potentially averting progression, but chronic cases (mean duration 8+ years) often achieve only partial recovery, such as increased outings or employment without full societal reintegration.^[33] Successful cases report high engagement leading to measurable gains (e.g., Glasgow Hikikomori Scale improvements from severe to moderate), yet relapse risks persist, and broader efficacy is hampered by comorbid complexities and societal barriers like stigma.^[57]^[56] Overall recovery rates are not well-quantified, with anecdotal evidence suggesting full resolution is rare for prolonged withdrawal, underscoring the need for individualized, multidimensional strategies over standardized protocols.^[9]

Societal and Economic Ramifications

The phenomenon of shut-ins, exemplified by Japan's hikikomori—individuals engaging in prolonged social withdrawal—imposes significant burdens on families, who often provide financial and emotional support while experiencing heightened stress and mental health challenges themselves.^[33] This familial strain contributes to broader societal fragmentation, as withdrawn individuals forgo education, employment, and interpersonal relationships, undermining social integration and human potential.^[59] In Japan, where estimates suggest over 1 million cases as of recent surveys, the issue exacerbates demographic pressures from an aging population, potentially hindering community cohesion and intergenerational support systems.^[60] Economically, shut-ins represent a loss of workforce participation, with hikikomori linked to reduced human capital availability and stalled productivity growth.^[61] In Japan, this withdrawal correlates with entry barriers into the job market and workplace difficulties, amplifying stagnation risks as fewer young people contribute to economic output.^[62] Related patterns of social isolation, including severe cases akin to shut-in behavior, incur substantial costs through foregone earnings and heightened healthcare expenditures; for instance, broader loneliness and isolation are estimated to cost the U.S. economy approximately $400–460 billion annually in lost productivity and medical expenses.^[63]^[64] Overlapping with NEET (not in employment, education, or training) demographics, such withdrawal leads to underutilized youth potential, straining public finances via welfare dependencies and diminishing GDP contributions globally.^[65]^[66] Long-term, these dynamics may perpetuate cycles of economic inefficiency, as affected individuals face barriers to reintegration, necessitating targeted interventions to mitigate fiscal drags.^[67]

Controversies and Alternative Perspectives

Medical Pathologization vs. Rational Adaptation

Medical frameworks classify shut-in behavior—prolonged confinement to one's residence with minimal social interaction—as a manifestation of underlying psychopathology, often subsumed under diagnoses like social anxiety disorder, avoidant personality disorder, or depression.^[68] This pathologization emphasizes comorbidity with psychiatric conditions, with studies reporting that up to 50-80% of individuals exhibiting hikikomori-like withdrawal (a culturally analogous phenomenon in Japan) meet criteria for concurrent mood or anxiety disorders.^[69] Interventions typically involve cognitive-behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy, or family-based reintegration programs aimed at restoring social functioning, predicated on the view that isolation perpetuates a vicious cycle of avoidance and functional impairment.^[9] Longitudinal data from Japanese cohorts indicate elevated risks of suicide, metabolic disorders, and diminished quality of life without treatment, supporting the rationale for medicalization as a means to mitigate these empirically observed harms.^[32] In contrast, alternative perspectives frame shut-in status as a rational adaptation to structural and environmental pressures rather than intrinsic defect. Sociological analyses posit that in high-stakes societies like Japan, where educational and occupational competition imposes disproportionate psychological costs—evidenced by youth unemployment rates exceeding 5% and bullying prevalence in schools affecting over 20% of students—withdrawal represents a calculated withdrawal from unprofitable social exchanges.^[70] This view aligns with evolutionary models of social behavior, where temporary retreat conserves resources amid threat or scarcity, as seen in animal studies and human stress responses; neuroimaging reveals activation in the brain's social decision-making network (e.g., anterior cingulate cortex) during withdrawal, suggesting an initial utility in threat avoidance that only turns maladaptive when protracted.^[71] Empirical distinctions emerge between fear-motivated avoidance (linked to anxiety and poor adjustment) and unsociability-driven isolation (associated with comparable well-being to non-withdrawn peers), implying not all shut-in cases warrant pathologization.^[72] Critiques of over-medicalization highlight potential iatrogenic effects, such as stigmatization without addressing root causes like familial enmeshment or economic disincentives to re-engagement; in Japan, government estimates peg hikikomori prevalence at over 1 million individuals as of 2023, yet mandatory interventions have shown mixed efficacy, with relapse rates above 30% post-treatment.^[73] Rational adaptation proponents argue that digital technologies—enabling remote work, virtual socialization, and e-commerce—facilitate sustainable isolation for those deriving net utility from solitude, challenging the normative assumption of extroversion as default health.^[70] However, cross-cultural data underscore that while short-term withdrawal buffers acute stressors, chronic forms correlate with neurobiological changes like hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation, tipping the balance toward dysfunction in most cases.^[74] This tension underscores the need for individualized assessment over blanket pathologization, prioritizing empirical outcomes over ideological commitments to social conformity.

Cultural and Generational Critiques

Cultural critiques of shut-in behavior, exemplified by Japan's hikikomori phenomenon, frequently emphasize its roots in familial and societal enabling rather than purely external pressures. Public perceptions in Japan often characterize hikikomori as manifestations of laziness or self-indulgence, where individuals exploit parental financial support to evade employment and social integration, thereby imposing burdens on families and the economy. This view holds that cultural norms prioritizing harmony and obligation inadvertently foster dependency, as parents hesitate to enforce independence due to shame or fear of family discord.^[75]^[76] Analyses further critique the tendency to mystify shut-in withdrawal as a unique cultural syndrome, arguing it obscures underlying failures in emotional development and personal accountability. Rather than attributing it solely to collectivist pressures or economic malaise, some contend it reflects a distorted pursuit of unconditional affection (amae), arising from unmet childhood needs and resulting in self-punitive isolation when desires conflict with reality. This framing redirects scrutiny toward overindulgent parenting dynamics, which prioritize avoidance of conflict over cultivating resilience, contrasting with individualistic cultures where withdrawal faces swifter social and material consequences.^[77]^[78] Generational critiques underscore the disproportionate prevalence among youth born after Japan's 1990s economic bubble burst, with rates estimated at over 1% of the population and affecting up to 25% of adolescents in severe cases. Detractors argue this reflects diminished grit compared to prior generations, who navigated postwar reconstruction and oil shocks without widespread retreat, attributing modern patterns to permissive or overly directive parenting that shields children from failure rather than equipping them for adaptation. Empirical associations link higher incidences to families with educated parents, where intense achievement expectations amplify withdrawal upon perceived underperformance, perpetuated by delayed cutoff of support that delays maturation.^[79]^[80]^[81] In broader contexts, including emerging cases in South Korea and Western societies, similar patterns draw rebukes for generational entitlement, where young recluses cite job market barriers or mental health but overlook opportunities in non-traditional paths, enabled by extended adolescence and digital escapism. Critics posit that welfare-like family structures and cultural narratives excusing personal agency exacerbate isolation, contrasting with historical norms demanding self-sufficiency amid adversity.^[82]^[60]

Impact of Technology and Digital Isolation

Advances in digital technology have facilitated the persistence of shut-in behavior by providing virtual substitutes for essential real-world interactions, such as online shopping, food delivery services, and streaming entertainment, which reduce the immediate need for physical外出. For instance, platforms like Amazon and Uber Eats enable individuals to sustain basic needs without leaving their residences, thereby lowering barriers to prolonged isolation.^[83] This technological affordance has been linked to the rise of severe social withdrawal syndromes like hikikomori, where affected individuals can maintain a semblance of functionality through digital means while avoiding societal engagement.^[84] Empirical studies demonstrate a strong correlation between internet and gaming addiction and increased risk of hikikomori traits. A 2019 cross-sectional study of Japanese undergraduates found that higher levels of internet addiction and smartphone addiction were significantly associated with elevated hikikomori risk, with odds ratios indicating a dose-response relationship wherein greater addiction severity predicted more severe withdrawal.^[85] Similarly, research on internet gaming disorder shows that excessive gaming time contributes to real-life social disengagement, as virtual achievements supplant offline relationships, potentially affecting up to 32% of gaming addicts with concurrent withdrawal symptoms.^[86] These patterns suggest a causal mechanism where digital immersion reinforces avoidance behaviors, diminishing motivation for interpersonal contact. Digital isolation exacerbates mental health deterioration among shut-ins, as prolonged screen-based activities correlate with heightened loneliness and depressive symptoms despite superficial online connectivity. A 2023 study across European countries reported that increased social media usage was tied to higher loneliness scores, particularly when used as a primary social outlet, with effect sizes indicating maladaptive substitution for face-to-face bonds.^[87] In hikikomori cohorts, technology's role in enabling isolation has been implicated in comorbid conditions like insomnia and anxiety, with one analysis of medical students revealing 47.2% internet addiction prevalence alongside 24.5% hikikomori traits.^[88] However, some evidence indicates potential mitigative effects; for example, a 2022 lockdown study in Japan observed that augmented internet use during restrictions inversely related to hikikomori risk, possibly by fostering remote support networks.^[89] Critically, while technology lowers the survival costs of withdrawal, it often entrenches causal loops of dependency, as first-principles analysis reveals that dopamine-driven digital rewards prioritize short-term gratification over long-term adaptive socialization. Peer-reviewed data underscores that without intervention, this dynamic perpetuates physical deconditioning and cognitive stagnation, as shut-ins forgo skill-building opportunities inherent in embodied, real-world experiences.^[33] Longitudinal tracking in affected populations, such as Japanese youth, highlights rising prevalence tied to post-2000s tech proliferation, with estimates suggesting over 1 million cases by 2019 partly attributable to these enablers.^[83]

Policy and Welfare System Influences

In Japan, the primary context for formalized responses to shut-in behavior manifested as hikikomori, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare issued guidelines in 2010 defining the condition as social withdrawal lasting over six months, excluding school or work attendance except for necessities, and prompting policy measures like prefectural support centers mandated since 2009.^[90] ^[91] These include awareness campaigns, regional consultation centers, and online platforms such as the Hikikomori Voice Station to facilitate reintegration, though evaluations indicate short-term, reactive interventions often fail to address root causes like family dynamics or employment barriers.^[63] ^[92] Hikikomori individuals predominantly rely on familial financial support rather than public welfare, with cultural stigma deterring applications for assistance; a 2020 analysis noted parents' reluctance to seek state aid, perpetuating intra-family dependency.^[93] ^[62] This family-centric model, combined with limited welfare uptake, may sustain withdrawal by avoiding external pressures for independence, as government surveys reveal up to one-third of affected individuals reject reintegration aid.^[94] In Western contexts, where shut-in phenomena align more with NEET (not in education, employment, or training) status, disability benefits for mental health conditions can inadvertently prolong isolation by providing subsistence without work mandates; economic analyses show welfare payments exceeding low-wage earnings in cases like the UK, where combined benefits surpass full-time minimum-wage income by £2,500 annually for over 1 million recipients.^[95] ^[96] Empirical studies from Denmark indicate youth welfare expansions reduce employment among childless unmarried individuals, suggesting a causal link between benefit generosity and reduced labor participation that exacerbates social withdrawal.^[97] Such systems, lacking Japan's family safety net but offering broader eligibility, may foster dependency among vulnerable youth, with NEET rates correlating to elevated disability claims in high-benefit regimes.^[98] Policy critiques highlight that without stringent reintegration requirements, welfare frameworks prioritize symptom alleviation over causal resolution, potentially amplifying shut-in prevalence; for instance, tolerance of prolonged dependence in both familial and state-supported models delays recovery, as evidenced by persistent hikikomori rates despite decades of Japanese interventions.^[33]^[92]

Geographical Usage

Definition and Geological Features

A shut-in is a narrow, steep-sided channel or gorge formed where a stream or river is confined by resistant igneous bedrock, limiting the watercourse's breadth and forcing turbulent flow through chutes, cascades, and pools.^[99] This geological feature typically occurs in regions with ancient Precambrian rocks, such as rhyolites and granites dating back over 1.4 billion years, where softer surrounding sediments erode more readily, leaving the harder rock to "shut in" the waterway.^[99] The term derives from early settler descriptions of rivers hemmed in by unyielding terrain, distinct from broader canyons by its localized confinement amid widening valleys upstream and downstream.^[100] Geologically, shut-ins exhibit distinctive erosional patterns driven by hydraulic action and abrasion over millennia. Streams carve smooth, swirling potholes, undercut ledges, and plunge pools as water accelerates through narrow passages, often 10–50 meters wide, with depths varying from shallow riffles to 5–10 meter drops.^[101] The resistant bedrock—primarily volcanic rhyolites and intrusive granites in the eastern Ozarks—resists downcutting, promoting lateral erosion and creating interconnected series of rapids and waterfalls rather than uniform deepening.^[99] These formations lack the stratified sedimentary layers common in classic gorges, instead featuring massive, jointed igneous outcrops that fracture into blocky shapes, enhancing the rugged, labyrinthine hydrology.^[102] Shut-ins are emblematic of the St. Francois Mountains' unique lithology, an uplifted Precambrian core exposed by differential erosion since the Paleozoic era. Unlike karst features elsewhere in the Ozarks, they arise from the juxtaposition of durable volcanics against erodible Paleozoic cover rocks, concentrating fluvial energy into high-gradient segments with gradients often exceeding 20 meters per kilometer.^[103] This results in dynamic ecosystems with scoured bedrock channels supporting specialized riparian flora and fauna adapted to periodic high-velocity flows.^[101]

Notable Examples and Formations

Johnson's Shut-Ins, located in Reynolds County, southeastern Missouri, represents one of the most prominent examples of an igneous shut-in formation. This site features the East Fork of the Black River channeled through resistant Precambrian rhyolite and granite, creating narrow gorges, rapids, plunge pools, and natural waterslides up to 20 feet high. The underlying rocks, including the Johnson Shut-Ins Rhyolite unit, originated approximately 1.48 billion years ago during volcanic activity linked to the Taum Sauk caldera complex in the St. Francois Mountains.^[104]^[99] Erosion of overlying softer sediments exposed these hard igneous layers, allowing the river to incise deeply into the bedrock over millions of years, resulting in the confined flow characteristic of shut-ins.^[103] Other notable shut-ins occur within the St. Francois Mountains region, where similar geological processes have produced comparable features along tributaries of the St. Francois River. For instance, lesser-known formations like those in the watershed exhibit narrow channels and waterfalls sculpted by streams encountering resistant igneous rocks, often dating to the same Proterozoic volcanic episodes. These examples highlight the regional prevalence of shut-ins in areas of exposed Precambrian basement, contrasting with broader Ozark karst landscapes dominated by limestone dissolution.^[105] Tiemann Shut-Ins, situated near the Black River in Iron County, Missouri, provides another illustrative case, showcasing outcrops that reveal stratigraphic sequences of igneous rocks intruded by later granitic bodies. This formation demonstrates the interplay of volcanic extrusion and subsequent erosion, with visible contacts between rhyolite flows and intrusive phases that predate the Phanerozoic cover. Such sites underscore the shut-in's role as a window into ancient tectonic history, preserved due to the durability of the host lithologies.^[106]

Other Uses

Media and Entertainment References

In film, shut-in characters have been portrayed as reclusive figures grappling with personal decay, trauma, or enforced immobility, often turning isolation into a lens for observing society. In Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard (1950), former silent film star Norma Desmond lives as a self-imposed recluse in her decaying Hollywood mansion, obsessively scripting a comeback while detached from reality.^[107] Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954) features photographer L.B. "Jeff" Jefferies, confined to his apartment by a broken leg, who spies on neighbors and uncovers a potential murder, highlighting voyeuristic tendencies born of immobility.^[107] The documentary Grey Gardens (1975) documents Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edie, eccentric relatives of Jacqueline Kennedy, residing as hoarders in a dilapidated East Hampton estate, rehashing faded glamour amid squalor.^[107] Literary depictions emphasize psychological stagnation or deliberate withdrawal. Charles Dickens' Great Expectations (1861) introduces Miss Havisham, a jilted bride who freezes time in her rotting mansion, wearing her yellowed wedding dress and fostering resentment in isolation.^[107] Ivan Goncharov's Oblomov (1859) satirizes Russian nobility through protagonist Ilya Ilyich Oblomov, who remains bedbound in apathy, symbolizing broader societal inertia.^[108] In Maria Semple's Where'd You Go, Bernadette (2012), architect Bernadette Fox sequesters herself at home, outsourcing errands via virtual assistant due to disdain for her Seattle suburb.^[108] Katherine Brabon's The Shut Ins (2021) features a hikikomori named Hikaru among protagonists navigating loneliness in Japan and Australia.^[109] Japanese media, particularly anime and light novels, recurrently explores hikikomori—a extreme shut-in variant involving prolonged room-bound withdrawal—as a response to societal pressures. The light novel and 2006 anime Welcome to the N.H.K., based on Tatsuhiko Takimoto's work, centers on Tatsuhiro Satō, a 22-year-old college dropout who has isolated for four years, attributing his state to a conspiracy by Japan's public broadcaster; the narrative blends dark humor with examinations of NEET culture and reintegration struggles.^[110] In anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (2011), Jinta Yadomi embodies a grieving recluse, prompted toward recovery by supernatural intervention from childhood friends.^[110] The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess light novels (2017 onward), adapted to anime in 2023, follow Terakomari Gandesblood, a vampire shut-in for three years, thrust into military command despite her aversion to exertion.^[111]

Technical and Industrial Applications

In petroleum engineering, a shut-in denotes the deliberate closure of a well or production facility to interrupt hydrocarbon flow, typically via valve operation or equipment deactivation, distinguishing it from abandonment which involves permanent sealing. This technique serves maintenance, safety protocols, economic optimization, or regulatory mandates, such as during low commodity prices or facility upgrades. Shut-in wells remain capable of resuming output by reopening valves or supplying power, as per industry standards.^[112] During drilling, shut-in procedures activate upon detecting a kick—an influx of formation fluids exceeding mud hydrostatic balance—to prevent blowouts. Operators halt pumps, close blowout preventers (e.g., annular or ram types), and record shut-in drill pipe pressure (SIDPP), representing underbalance at the bit, alongside shut-in casing pressure (SICP) for annulus conditions; these metrics inform mud weight adjustments for well killing, with SIDPP calculated as formation pressure minus drill pipe hydrostatic head.^[113]^[114]^[115] Hard shut-in methods close preventers with pumps off for rapid containment, while soft variants maintain circulation briefly to minimize pressure surges.^[116] In production management, shut-ins optimize reservoir performance, as in shale gas systems where cyclic shut-in strategies mitigate liquid loading in late-life wells, enhancing long-term recovery. Shut-in pressure data also aids fracture analysis in unconventional reservoirs, modeling decline curves to estimate parameters like fracture half-length. Lease agreements incorporate shut-in clauses permitting operators to retain rights via royalty payments—often matching annual production equivalents—when market absence or infrastructure delays preclude sales, averting lease termination under habendum clauses.^[117]^[118]^[119] Industrial tools support these applications, including downhole shut-in devices like battery-powered valves for automated closure in data acquisition or intervention scenarios. In high-temperature, high-pressure environments, coupled models of temperature fields, fracture deformation, and gas flow predict shut-in pressures to refine operational planning.^[120]^[121]

References

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Shut-in - The Free Dictionary
A person confined indoors by illness or disability. adj. (shŭt-ĭn′). 1. Confined to a home or hospital, as by illness. 2 ...
[2]
Shut-in Definition & Meaning - YourDictionary
Shut-in definition: Confined to one's home, an institution, etc. by illness or infirmity.
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Shut-In? Impact of Chronic Conditions on Community Participation ...
Shut-In? Impact of Chronic Conditions on Community Participation Restriction ... Definition of Variables. 2.1.1. Sociodemographic Characteristics.
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Researchers Say Number of Older 'Shut-Ins' Is a Major Concern
Aug 1, 2019 · The number of older homebound people in the United States has hit 2 million and researchers expect that figure to rise in the near future.Missing: prevalence statistics
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The Global Epidemic of Extreme Social Withdrawal
Jan 12, 2020 · If someone in Japan becomes a shut-in and avoids the outside world for more than six consecutive months, the Japanese Health, Labor and ...<|separator|>
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Hikikomori, A Japanese Culture-Bound Syndrome of Social ... - NIH
Hikikomori is a state of avoiding social engagement, with persistent withdrawal into one's residence for at least six months, and a lifestyle centered at home.
[7]
Hikikomori: A Scientometric Review of 20 Years of Research - PMC
Apr 27, 2023 · Based on an epidemiological survey conducted in Japan, the lifetime prevalence of hikikomori was reported to be 1.2%, and was more commonly ...
[8]
Japan's hikikomori: Social recluses became more isolated ... - CNN
Apr 7, 2023 · The nationwide survey found that among 12,249 respondents, roughly 2% of people aged 15 to 64 identified as hikikomori, with a slight increase ...Missing: prevalence | Show results with:prevalence
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Hikikomori : Multidimensional understanding, assessment, and ...
May 31, 2019 · Hikikomori, a severe form of social withdrawal, has long been observed in Japan mainly among youth and adolescents since around the 1970s.
[10]
SHUT-IN Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
Sep 19, 2025 · 1. a person who is confined to home, a room, or bed because of illness or incapacity 2. a narrow gorge-shaped part of an otherwise wide valley.
[11]
Shut-in - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
Originating from the late 14th-century phrase "lock in," combining shut + in, shut-in means a person isolated or confined, especially by disability.Missing: psychology | Show results with:psychology
[12]
SHUT IN - Definition & Meaning - Reverso English Dictionary
shut in definition: spend time indoors. Check meanings, examples, usage tips, pronunciation, domains, related words.
[13]
Dementia Praecox and the Shut-In Personality | Psychology Today
Oct 30, 2019 · The Shut-In Personality ... Essentially, Hoch (1910) identified the co-occurrence of a cluster of personality traits—shyness, sensitivity, ...
[14]
Clarifying Deeper Psychological Characteristics of Hikikomori Using ...
Jun 13, 2019 · Loneliness, avoidant personality, Japanese culture-related attachment style (“amae”), and difficulty in expressing emotions are suggested to be ...
[15]
Are Hikikomori Just a Japanese Problem? | Alexander Krieg
Feb 21, 2016 · This works itself out to be a lifetime prevalence rate of 1.2% for Japanese individuals between the age of 20 and 49. The scientific community ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[16]
shut-in - Encyclopedia.com
shut-in • n. 1. a person confined indoors, esp. as a result of physical or mental disability.2. a state or period in which an oil or gas well has available ...Missing: definition | Show results with:definition<|separator|>
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shut-in, adj. & n. meanings, etymology and more
The earliest known use of the word shut-in is in the 1840s. OED's earliest evidence for shut-in is from 1849, in the writing of G. Cupples. shut-in is formed ...
[18]
[PDF] Radio, Disability, Governmentality, and the Discourse of the “Shut-in ...
Importantly, it usually connoted people who were physically sick or disabled; although the shut-in's disability might have emotional consequences, the term was.
[19]
Shut-In Society records - ArchivesSpace at the University of Iowa
The Shut-In Society was a national organization that consisted of a “band of invalids,” or individuals with disabilities, from all over the country. Shut-In ...
[20]
Society for the Entertainment of Shut-ins, 1908 [annual report]
According to these documents, the Society aimed “to relive the monotony and pain of a shut-in life…Its original plan included giving entertainments in hospitals ...
[21]
(PDF) “A Blessed Boon”: Radio, Disability, Governmentality, and the ...
Aug 7, 2025 · One of the most frequently invoked figures in U.S. policy discourse in the 1920s was the "shut-in" to whom radio technology promised greater ...
[22]
Perspectives on Social Withdrawal in Childhood: Past, Present, and ...
In this article, we provide definitional clarity for the construct of social withdrawal as it was originally construed, and review the original theoretical and ...
[23]
Agoraphobia - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - NIH
Nov 11, 2024 · Agoraphobia is characterized by anxiety or fear arising from thoughts that escape may be difficult or help may be unavailable in certain situations.Etiology · Pathophysiology · Treatment / Management<|control11|><|separator|>
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Agoraphobia: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
Researchers don't know the exact cause of agoraphobia. However, it's often associated with an existing panic disorder. Panic disorder causes short, intense ...
[25]
The relationship between Hikikomori risk factors and social ... - NIH
Dec 20, 2022 · We found that (a) Hikikomori risk factors positively correlated with social withdrawal tendencies and depression and anxiety but negatively correlated with ...
[26]
Relationship Between Social Withdrawal (Hikikomori), Personality ...
Aug 21, 2023 · The Hikikomori group had higher depression, anxiety, neuroticism, and dysfunctional coping dimension (self-blame and behavioral disengagement) ...
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May 15, 2024 · Social isolation and loneliness are widespread problems in the US, posing a serious threat to our mental and physical health.Missing: evolution | Show results with:evolution<|separator|>
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May 17, 2017 · Specifically, research suggests that the risk of developing SAD is increased by over-controlling, critical and cold parenting, an insecure ...<|separator|>
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Does childhood maltreatment affect hikikomori via traits of modern ...
Sep 1, 2024 · Taken together, we suggest that traumatic childhood experiences at home and school are risk factors in the development of hikikomori. Second, we ...
[30]
Preliminary study of the social withdrawal (hikikomori) spectrum in ...
Jul 16, 2022 · Further, environmental factors, such as the lack of communication between parents and Internet overuse, were found to be significant predictors ...<|separator|>
[31]
(PDF) A Sociological Study of Hikikomori - ResearchGate
The findings reveal that academic stress, unemployment, and changing family structures are significant contributors to hikikomori. Furthermore, the study ...
[32]
Hikikomori: A Scientometric Review of 20 Years of Research - MDPI
The causes and risk factors for hikikomori are not well understood although many studies have highlighted the male gender and insecure attachment [9].
[33]
Hikikomori: A Society-Bound Syndrome of Severe Social Withdrawal
Hikikomori is a severe, prolonged social withdrawal, often involving isolation in one's home for months or years, and is a society-bound syndrome.Missing: recluse empirical
[34]
[PDF] Hikikomori Phenomenon in East Asia - Singapore - NUS Medicine
Jul 23, 2019 · The best-known risk factors for hikikomori are the presence of a psychiatric disorder, developmental disorder, substance-related or behavioral ...
[35]
The relationship between Hikikomori risk factors and social ...
Dec 19, 2022 · They reported a prevalence estimate that 1.2% of the general population in Japan would have experienced Hikikomori in their lifetime.Abstract · Introduction · Results · Discussion
[36]
Does the Hikikomori Syndrome of Social Withdrawal Exist in ... - NIH
Dec 23, 2022 · So, far, there is a variability in the prevalence of hikikomori in global studies, ranging from 0.87% to 1.2% in Japan (up to 26.66% in Japan's ...
[37]
Social isolation takes a toll on a rising number of South Korea's ...
Feb 11, 2024 · A quarter of them said their isolated or reclusive state lasted for one to three years, while 6.1% said the period exceeded 10 years. More than ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[38]
Epidemiology of Hikikomori: A systematic review and meta-analysis ...
The overall prevalence of Hikikomori was 8.0% (95% CI, 4.9%-12.9%). The prevalence of Hikikomori did not differ significantly between regions (East Asia and ...
[39]
Severe Social Withdrawal: Cultural Variation in Past Hikikomori ...
Aug 6, 2025 · Our previous findings with samples of young adults showed that lifetime episodes of hikikomori were reported by 15.8% and 4.3% of participants ...
[40]
The Epidemiology of the Homebound in the United States - PMC - NIH
Feb 10, 2016 · In 2011, the prevalence of the homebound was 5.6% (95% CI= 5.09%–6.14%), including an estimated 395,422 people who were completely homebound and ...
[41]
Mount Sinai Researchers Report Troubling Increase in Homebound ...
Aug 23, 2021 · ... homebound older adults, likely driven by the pandemic, from 5 percent in the previous decade to 13 percent of the population in 2020. Homebound ...
[42]
Prevalence of homebound 22 percent in national Medicare ...
Aug 13, 2024 · The researchers found that the overall prevalence of homebound beneficiaries was 22.0 percent in 2022 (8.4 percent homebound; 13.6 percent semi-homebound).Missing: shut- | Show results with:shut-
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Jul 29, 2025 · The prevalence of homebound sample populations ranged from 4.2% to 65%, stratified by factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and the ...Missing: shut- | Show results with:shut-
[44]
Homebound older adults who live independently in rural Japan
The prevalence of homebound independent older adults was estimated as 10.4 % (6.6 % males, 13.8 % females). Homebound status was significantly associated with ...
[45]
Social Isolation and Loneliness - World Health Organization (WHO)
Social isolation and loneliness are widespread, with around 16% of people worldwide – one in six – experiencing loneliness.
[46]
The risks of social isolation - American Psychological Association
Evidence links perceived loneliness and social isolation with depression, poor sleep quality, impaired executive function, accelerated cognitive decline, ...Missing: empirical | Show results with:empirical
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A Survey of Changes in the Psychological State of Individuals with ...
Aug 8, 2023 · The individuals who reported hikikomori traits experienced a worsening of depression and anxiety during the lockdown. The improvement of stigma ...
[48]
Unmet Health Care Use Among Socially Withdrawn Youth ...
Oct 2, 2025 · For physical health, the weighted prevalence was 8.6% among hikikomori youth compared with 2.9% among nonhikikomori (aPR 3.33, 95% CI 2.16‐5.13) ...
[49]
A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies
Jan 22, 2025 · The results showing poor mental function in individuals with Hikikomori indicated that mental health problems should not be ignored, even being ...
[50]
A One-Year Prospective Follow-Up Study on the Health Profile of ...
Our recent study has revealed that the sedentary lifestyle living of hikikomori leads to poor physical health outcomes, in particular obesity and hypertension ...
[51]
Two case reports focused on the treatment of Hikikomori - Frontiers
Mar 22, 2023 · The sedentary lifestyle of Hikikomori is likely to elevate the risk of hypertension and prehypertension (20), which can hasten the development ...
[52]
A Comprehensive Health Profile of Youths Living with a “Hikikomori ...
In conclusion, the hikikomori lifestyle could be a risk behavior that may harm the younger generation physically by promoting obesity and hypertension and ...
[53]
Physical health risks of middle-aged people with low social ... - NIH
Feb 20, 2023 · While the mental health, healing, and prognosis of Hikikomori have been presented as case reports, there are very few studies on their physical ...Missing: effects | Show results with:effects
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Long-Term Impact of Social Isolation and Molecular Underpinnings
Prolonged periods of social isolation can have detrimental effects on the physiology and behavior of exposed individuals in humans and animal models.
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A correlational study of socioeconomic factors and the prevalence of ...
Hikikomori has a significant negative impact on psychological and physical health via the development of comorbid psychiatric and nutritional disorders that ...
[56]
Successful remote treatment of a client with Hikikomori using ...
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[57]
Two case reports focused on the treatment of Hikikomori - PMC - NIH
Mar 23, 2023 · We present two descriptive case reports of Japanese university students with Hikikomori who participated in an early phase test of a structured intervention ...
[58]
Jogging Therapy for Hikikomori Social Withdrawal and Increased ...
Apr 29, 2016 · Here, we report a case of hikikomori for which an exercise intervention using jogging therapy was effective, showing cerebral hemodynamic ...
[59]
Hikikomori: A Society-Bound Syndrome of Severe Social Withdrawal
Jun 1, 2022 · Hikikomori is a severe, prolonged social withdrawal, often in young people, where they isolate themselves, sometimes for months or years.
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Hikikomori in Japan: The 'shut-in' syndrome that created a ...
Jul 31, 2023 · The term hikikomori, used for the condition and its sufferers, is credited to a 1998 book by Japanese psychologist Tamaki Saito about social ...
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Hikikomori Phenomenon in East Asia: Regional Perspectives ... - NIH
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Supporting Japanese people affected by severe social isolation
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Dec 18, 2024 · According to the Center for BrainHealth, loneliness costs the U.S. economy about $460 billion each year. This massive number shows how much ...
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Costing the Problem | developmentanalytics
Being NEET has costs for individuals, including lost wages, and for society, including foregone productivity and increased public finances. Women's costs are ...
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Why NEET-Focused Initiatives Deserve Greater Investment
Economic burden: NEET youth contribute to economic loss due to underutilized potential, impacting GDP growth and social welfare budgets.
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An Updated Systematic Literature Review of the Economic Costs of ...
Jun 16, 2025 · Cost-of-illness studies found that loneliness and social isolation led to extra costs, mostly related to healthcare and lost work productivity, ...
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Is hikikomori a variant of already-known mental health disorders? A ...
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Hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal) and co-occurring ...
The relationship between Hikikomori risk factors and social withdrawal tendencies among emerging adults-An exploratory study of Hikikomori in Singapore.
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Hikikomori: The Japanese Phenomenon, Policy, and Culture
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Social withdrawal: An initially adaptive behavior that becomes ...
Long-term social withdrawal can be induced by life-history events. The above suggest that social withdrawal is part of an adaptive response which in itself ...<|separator|>
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Motivations for Social Withdrawal, Mental Health, and Well-Being in ...
Nov 27, 2023 · The unsociable subgroup appeared to be the most well-adjusted subgroup of socially withdrawn emerging adults and reported similar levels of life ...
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Social withdrawal: An initially adaptive behavior that becomes ...
Jun 28, 2020 · Social withdrawal is found across neuropsychiatric disorders and in numerous animal species under various conditions.
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Islands of Solitude: A Psychiatrist's View of the Hikikomori
Dec 13, 2017 · One widely held view is that hikikomori are lazy or spoiled by parents who are willing to support their jobless offspring. I would like to ...
[76]
Hikikomori: Why are so many Japanese men refusing to leave their ...
Jul 5, 2013 · It might sound like straightforward teenage laziness. Why not stay in your room while your parents wait on you? But Saito says sufferers are ...
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[PDF] Hikikomori as Disfigured Desire: Indulgence, Mystification, and ...
Hikikomori is a Japanese condition of severe social isolation, often lasting years, and is not classified in the DSM or ICD.
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[PDF] A Review of Social and Cultural Causes of Hikikomori - Atlantis Press
Hikikomori, characterized by social withdrawal, is linked to Japan's collectivist culture, where individuals prioritize society's interests and group ...Missing: critiques | Show results with:critiques
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Association of childhood family environments with the risk of social ...
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[80]
Counselor has harsh words for parents of 'hikikomori' - Japan Today
Feb 15, 2013 · The counselor also maintains that the parents should set firm yet reasonable rules for children to help prevent them from becoming hikikomori.
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Permissive, Overbearing Parenting Is Connected to Hikikomori
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In South Korea thousands of young people have become recluses ...
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The plight of Japan's modern hermits - BBC
Jan 29, 2019 · But in Japan half a million people live as modern-day hermits. They are known as hikikomori – recluses who withdraw from all social contact and ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Technology affordances and social withdrawal: The rise of hikikomori
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[85]
Internet Addiction, Smartphone Addiction, and Hikikomori Trait ... - NIH
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A preliminary cross-cultural study of Hikikomori and Internet Gaming ...
The more time individuals spend gaming, the more they are expected experience real life social withdrawal/Hikikomori, and the higher the risk of IGD ...
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Associations between social media use and loneliness in a cross ...
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[88]
(PDF) A Study on Internet and Gaming Addiction, Hikikomori Trait ...
Internet addiction was present in 189(47.2%) participants, gaming addiction in 128 (32%) students and hikikomori trait was found in 98(24.5%) students. There ...
[89]
The Relationship Between Hikikomori Risk and Internet Use During ...
Jan 12, 2022 · Greater increase in the use of the Internet during lockdown was associated with reduced risk of hikikomori. Previous research has suggested that ...Missing: shut- | Show results with:shut-<|separator|>
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Hikikomori: experience in Japan and international relevance - PMC
Jan 19, 2018 · In 2010, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced a guideline for hikikomori which included a definition (“a situation where a ...
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r/japan - Hikidashi-ya: The Shady Business Disguised As Hikikomori ...
Nov 29, 2021 · I was surprised that apparently "since 2009, every prefecture is legally required to have a hikikomori treatment center (via the Ministry of ...
[92]
Japan needs to rethink how it helps hikikomori
Jun 16, 2025 · Hospital care is too rigid, schools emphasize conformity over recovery and most government interventions are short-term or reactive. For ...
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Reaching Out to Older “Hikikomori” and Their Families - nippon.com
Jan 29, 2020 · The idea of receiving public assistance or other support is hard to accept both for hikikomori and for their parents.
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A Camp for Japan's Social Recluses - MindSite News
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Welfare pays more than a job for 1m on combined benefits, think ...
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[96]
[PDF] Does Social Assistance Disincentivise Employment, Job Formality ...
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New Evidence on Welfare's Disincentive for the Youth Using ...
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[PDF] NEETS INTEGRATION INTO SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN ...
benefit schemes tend to have elevated proportions of NEETs with disabilities, fostering disincentives ... The NEET and Hikikomori spectrum: Assessing the ...Missing: encouraging | Show results with:encouraging
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Johnson's Shut-Ins | Missouri Department of Conservation
Jun 5, 1978 · Then the river hits the more resistant igneous rock and the valley becomes narrow and steep-sided or “shut in.” Along the banks of the stream ...Missing: definition | Show results with:definition
[100]
Shut-Ins - Mozark Hiker
What is a shut-in? A shut-in is a geological feature similar to a gorge that “shuts-in” the river/creek. Water cascades through billon-and-a-half-year-old ...
[101]
The Castor River Shut-Ins - Missouri Department of Conservation
The deep, narrow channel of the Castor River in the northern part of Amidon Conservation Area is a classic example of a shut-in.Missing: definition | Show results with:definition<|separator|>
[102]
Tag: shut-ins - A Thousand Acres of Silphiums
What is a “shut-in” you may ask? A shut-in is a section of a river that is forced to move through resistant, igneous rock, such as the rhylolite pictured above.
[103]
Natural Features - Johnson's Shut-Ins - Missouri State Parks
The rugged terrain of the St. Francois Mountains and Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park is home to many natural landscapes like woodlands, glades and rivers.
[104]
Geolex — JohnsonShutins publications
Aug 28, 2025 · Johnson Shut-ins Rhyolite. Unit is part of sequence of Precambrian volcanic rocks associated with Taum Sauk caldera in western part of St.
[105]
Three Lesser Known Shut-ins of the St. Francois River Watershed
May 8, 2024 · The shut-ins, characterized by narrow channels and cascading waterfalls, are formed when swiftly flowing streams encounter resistant igneous ...<|separator|>
[106]
Geology of Tiemann Shut-Ins
Tiemann Shut-Ins, though, is a rare location where we can trace out a sequence of events by simply looking at the outcrop. Tiemann Shut-Ins are located in the ...
[107]
Great shut-ins of the screen show the way to shelter in place
Mar 30, 2020 · “Sunset Boulevard,” 1950 · “Rear Window,” 1954 · “Grey Gardens,” 1975 · “Great Expectations,” 1946 · “To Kill a Mockingbird,” 1962 · Related Movies.
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5 Novels Whose Main Characters Are Shut-ins - Barnes & Noble
Jun 5, 2017 · Willie Wonka is one of the most famous shut-ins in literature, his status masked by his extravagant appearance, exuberant personality, and the ...Missing: examples film
[109]
In The Shut Ins, Australian novelist Katherine Brabon ... - ABC News
Aug 14, 2021 · A hikikomori named Hikaru is one of four protagonists in Melbourne author Katherine Brabon's restrained and absorbing second novel, The Shut Ins.Missing: examples film
[110]
The Depiction of Hikikomori in Japanese Pop Culture
Jan 27, 2025 · Typically, hikikomori translates to either a “recluse” or a “shut-in” in English, but neither gives justice to the truth. “Hikikomori” is a ...
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https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2023/9/24/the-vexations-of-a-shut-in-vampire-princess-tv-anime-reveals-7-more-cast-members
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Shut | in Well | Oil and Gas Drilling Glossary | IADCLexicon.org
Shut-in well shall mean a well which is capable of production or injection by opening valves, activating existing equipment or supplying a power source.
[113]
Shut In Drill Pipe & Casing Pressure - Drilling Manual
Feb 3, 2023 · Shut-in drill pipe and casing pressure indicate the difference between formation pressure and the hydrostatic pressures in & out of the drill pipe.
[114]
Definition of Shut-in drillpipe pressure (SIDPP) - DrillingMatters.org
Recorded when a well is shut in on a kick. From the SIDPP, one can calculate the increase in mud weight needed to kill the well.
[115]
Shut-In Drill Pipe Pressure (SIDPP) | Wild Well Control
Shut-In Drill Pipe Pressure (SIDPP). Surface pressure measured at the Standpipe Manifold that represents the underbalance pressure in the drillstring between ...
[116]
Shut-in procedures for well control - OnePetro
Jan 29, 2025 · Raise the kelly until a tool joint is above the rotary table. · Stop the mud pumps. · Close the annular preventer. · Notify company personnel.
[117]
Shut-in based production optimization of shale-gas systems
By applying a cyclic shut-in and production strategy, the scheme avoids well liquid loading and optimizes the production from a set of late-life wells at a ...
[118]
Fractured gas reservoir shut-in curve analysis and application
May 15, 2025 · Analyzing the shut-in pressure decline curve of a fractured well is a common method for determining fracturing parameters. Although the G- ...
[119]
Shut-In Clauses in the Oil and Gas Industry - Pheasant Energy
Apr 1, 2025 · It allows the lessee, typically the oil and gas company, to halt or 'shut in' production temporarily without forfeiting the lease. This clause ...Missing: definition | Show results with:definition
[120]
DataCan Downhole Shut-in Tool
DataCan's patented shut-in tool is a pre-programmable, battery-powered, valve and drive that opens and closes a wellbore downhole.
[121]
A shut-in pressure calculation method for high-temperature high ...
This study couples the shut-in temperature field model, fracture deformation model, and gas flow model to establish a wellbore pressure calculation model