%0 Journal Article
%T A CASE STUDY OF A CHINESE ¡®HIKIKOMORIAN¡¯ IN CANADA ¨C THEORIZING THE PROCESS OF HIKIKOMORIZATION
%A Stella Suk-ching CHONG
%A Kar-Mon CHAN
%J Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation
%@ 1857-663X
%D 2012
%I Faculty of Philosophy, Institute of Special Education and Rehabilitation
%X The term ¡®hikikomori¡¯ originates from Japan and means ¡®acute social withdrawal¡¯. This study intends to investigate into the causes of hikikomori which is increasing worldwide phenomenon. The methodology is a case study approach located in an interpretive paradigm. The data was mainly collected through e-mails with the participant and phone conversations with his mother. The participant was a ¡®hiki-ko-morian¡¯ who was invited to investigate his own problem and further to be the co-author of this paper. The literature findings and this case study were then conceptualized into a more wide-ranging framework in compre-hen-ding the process of hikikomorization. The result appears to show that hikikomorization involves three processes: first, a predisposed introverted personality; second, the effects of multiple environmental factors such as family, school and society; and finally, the trigger point, such as the end of schooling or a stressful event. The study offers implications for other hiki-ko-mo-rians in better understanding of their problems and for practitioners working with reclusive ado-lescents and their families.
%K hikikomori
%K social withdrawal
%K case study
%U http://jser.fzf.ukim.edu.mk/files/99-114%20Chong%281%29.pdf