Validation of the German version of the 25-item hikikomori questionnaire 25

TY - JOUR

T1 - Validation of the German version of the 25-item hikikomori questionnaire 25

AU - Hajek, André

AU - Teo, Alan R

AU - Zwar, Larissa

AU - König, Hans-Helmut

N1 - © 2024 The Author(s). International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2024/6/20

Y1 - 2024/6/20

N2 - OBJECTIVES: The 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ-25) is an instrument developed to measure a condition characterized by extreme social withdrawal that was first described in Japan. This study aimed to translate the HQ-25 into German and validate the German version (HQ-25-G).METHODS: Translation was conducted according to established guidelines. Validation was based on data from a quota sample of individuals living in Germany, ranging from 18 to 74 years old (representing the distribution of age, sex and federal state, n = 5000). Data collection occurred during August and September 2023. We tested reliability, construct validity and concurrent validity. Moreover, HQ-25 scores for key sociodemographic group were reported.RESULTS: Internal reliability for the HQ-25-G was excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93). We confirmed the original three-factor model. Moreover, higher hikikomori levels were significantly associated with more depressive symptoms (r = 0.50), more anxiety symptoms (r = 0.45), higher loneliness levels (r = 0.56), higher levels of objective social isolation (r = -0.47), higher levels of perceived social isolation (r = 0.59) and a higher preference for solitude (r = 0.45).CONCLUSIONS: In a large population-based sample (including younger adults, middle-aged adults and older adults), the HQ-25-G version proves to be a psychometrically robust instrument, which is useful for further exploring the phenomenon of hikikomori within the German-speaking population.

AB - OBJECTIVES: The 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ-25) is an instrument developed to measure a condition characterized by extreme social withdrawal that was first described in Japan. This study aimed to translate the HQ-25 into German and validate the German version (HQ-25-G).METHODS: Translation was conducted according to established guidelines. Validation was based on data from a quota sample of individuals living in Germany, ranging from 18 to 74 years old (representing the distribution of age, sex and federal state, n = 5000). Data collection occurred during August and September 2023. We tested reliability, construct validity and concurrent validity. Moreover, HQ-25 scores for key sociodemographic group were reported.RESULTS: Internal reliability for the HQ-25-G was excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.93). We confirmed the original three-factor model. Moreover, higher hikikomori levels were significantly associated with more depressive symptoms (r = 0.50), more anxiety symptoms (r = 0.45), higher loneliness levels (r = 0.56), higher levels of objective social isolation (r = -0.47), higher levels of perceived social isolation (r = 0.59) and a higher preference for solitude (r = 0.45).CONCLUSIONS: In a large population-based sample (including younger adults, middle-aged adults and older adults), the HQ-25-G version proves to be a psychometrically robust instrument, which is useful for further exploring the phenomenon of hikikomori within the German-speaking population.

KW - Humans

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Adult

KW - Male

KW - Female

KW - Aged

KW - Young Adult

KW - Adolescent

KW - Germany

KW - Social Isolation

KW - Reproducibility of Results

KW - Psychometrics/standards

KW - Depression/diagnosis

KW - Anxiety/diagnosis

KW - Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/standards

KW - Loneliness

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires/standards

KW - Translations

U2 - 10.1002/mpr.2027

DO - 10.1002/mpr.2027

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 38899465

VL - 33

JO - INT J METH PSYCH RES

JF - INT J METH PSYCH RES

SN - 1049-8931

IS - 2

M1 - e2027

ER -