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.