A new study led by researchers at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) has found that one in five UK university students shows signs of hikikomori like behaviour — a pattern of severe social withdrawal previously thought to be largely confined to Japan.
Published in the British Journal of Psychiatry (BJPsych), the research is the first systematic investigation of hikikomori like behaviour among UK university students. The study suggests that social withdrawal may be far more prevalent in the UK student population than previously recognised, with important implications for student mental health support and early intervention.
The research team surveyed 105 university students across the UK using validated psychological and behavioural measures. While no students met criteria for the most extreme form of hikikomori (remaining self-confined for more than six months), 21% displayed some form of significant social withdrawal, and 14.3% met criteria for pathological hikikomori, characterised by distress and impairment in daily functioning.
The study found strong links between hikikomori like behaviour and psychological distress, autism related traits and problematic gaming, with internet gaming disorder and autism traits emerging as the strong predictors of social withdrawal. Depression and anxiety were also moderately associated, highlighting the complex interplay between mental health, neurodevelopmental traits and digital behaviour.
Dr Yoko Nagai, senior author and researcher at BSMS, said: “Our findings suggest that hikikomori like behaviour is not rare among UK university students. Many students experiencing early or moderate social withdrawal may remain engaged in their studies, which presents a crucial opportunity for early identification and support before withdrawal becomes entrenched.”
The researchers emphasise the importance of identifying “pre hikikomori” states — periods of social withdrawal lasting less than six months — where early intervention may prevent progression to more severe isolation. Universities, the authors argue, are uniquely placed to recognise these patterns and adapt policies, teaching practices and student support services accordingly.
The findings also have wider public health relevance, particularly given the growing number of young people in the UK who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). The authors suggest that hikikomori like withdrawal and NEET status may exist along a continuum of social disengagement, with shared risk factors including psychological distress and problematic gaming.
The Department for Work and Pensions released the Young people and work: interim report in June 2026 to set out who young people who are NEET are, what they face, why the systems around them fail and what the consequences are.
The study calls for greater awareness of social withdrawal among students, improved screening within university mental health services, and the development of targeted interventions that address both mental health needs and digital behaviours.
Read the full study >