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Effects of COVID-19 on Mental Health in Business: Increasing the Hikikomori-Like Workers in Japan

In: COVID-19 and the Evolving Business Environment in Asia

Author

Listed:
  • Motoki Watabe

    (Monash University Malaysia
    Sunway University Business School, Sunway University)

  • Hiroaki Kubo

    (Kyushu University)

  • Kazumasa Horie

    (Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University)

  • Ryoko Katsuki

    (Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University)

  • Itsuki Yamakawa

    (Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University
    College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University)

  • Shinji Sakamoto

    (College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University)

  • Takahiro A. Kato

    (Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University)

Abstract

Given the pandemic of COVID-19, many countries including Japan implemented curfew restrictions. Unlike other countries, there were no legal penalties for such restrictions in Japan. However, many citizens voluntarily imposed curfew restrictions. This review paper introduces the impact of this on mental health based on our recent survey studies of Japanese workers. The recent two survey research showed that after the pandemic, 33% of respondents were found to be in the “hikikomori (severe social withdrawal)” or “pre-hikikomori (potentially severe social withdrawal)” category on behavioral indicators. Four antecedents of hikikomori were identified: (1) social anxiety, (2) achievement motivation, (3) new-type depressive tendencies, and (4) self-esteem. These results suggest that hikikomori-like behaviors induced by government policy would lead to real hikikomori behaviors. We also argue that continuous monitoring of Japanese online workers by the psychometric indictors is necessary for preventing further increase of hikikomori.

Suggested Citation

  • Motoki Watabe & Hiroaki Kubo & Kazumasa Horie & Ryoko Katsuki & Itsuki Yamakawa & Shinji Sakamoto & Takahiro A. Kato, 2022. "Effects of COVID-19 on Mental Health in Business: Increasing the Hikikomori-Like Workers in Japan," Springer Books, in: Andrei O. J. Kwok & Motoki Watabe & Sharon G.M. Koh (ed.), COVID-19 and the Evolving Business Environment in Asia, pages 189-204, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-981-19-2749-2_10
    DOI: 10.1007/978-981-19-2749-2_10
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