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Affiliation |
Graduate School of Medicine Doctorial Course in Medicine Public Health and Environmental Medicine Department of Community-based Psycosomatic Health Care |
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Laboratory Address |
1-1-1 Hondo, Akita City |
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Mail Address |
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YONG KIM FONG ROSELINE
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Research Interests 【 display / non-display 】
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community building
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mental health
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Internet addiction
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social isolation)
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hikikomori (social withdrawal
Graduating School 【 display / non-display 】
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-2000.07
Universiti Putra Malaysia Faculty of Environmental Studies Graduated
Graduate School 【 display / non-display 】
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2010.04-2013.03
The University of Tokyo Graduate School, Division of Medicine Mental Health Doctor's Course Completed
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2006.09-2009.11
The University of Hong Kong The School of Public Health Public Health Practice Master's Course Completed
Degree 【 display / non-display 】
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The University of Hong Kong - Master in Public Health
Campus Career 【 display / non-display 】
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2024.06-Now
Akita University Graduate School of Medicine Doctorial Course in Medicine Public Health and Environmental Medicine Department of Community-based Psycosomatic Health Care Assistant Professor
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2016.04-2024.05
Akita University Graduate School of Medicine Doctorial Course in Medicine Public Health and Environmental Medicine The Department of Public Health Assistant Professor
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2015.07-2016.03
Akita University Graduate School of Medicine Specially-appointed Assistant Professor
External Career 【 display / non-display 】
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2013.02-2014.01
Health and Global Policy Institute Researcher
Academic Society Affiliations 【 display / non-display 】
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2020.10-Now
Japan
Japan Academy of Public Health Nursing
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2010.04-Now
Japan
Japan Public Health Association
Research Areas 【 display / non-display 】
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Life Science / Gerontological nursing and community health nursing
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Life Science / Hygiene and public health (laboratory) / Community Health
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Humanities & Social Sciences / Sociology of education
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Life Science / Medical management and medical sociology
Thesis for a degree 【 display / non-display 】
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日本人集団における3つのインターネット依存症尺度の信頼性と妥当性
ヨン キム フォン ロザリン
2013.03
Single author
Research Achievements 【 display / non-display 】
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Roseline Yong, Koji Fujita, Masato Kitajima
International Journal of Social Psychiatry 2025.09 [Refereed]
Research paper (journal) Domestic Co-author
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Yong R.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ( International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ) 22 ( 9 ) 2025.09
Research paper (journal) Single author
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Roseline Yong
Front. Psychiatry 2024.05 [Refereed]
Research paper (journal) Single author
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Yong, Roseline
Front. Psychiatry 15 2024.02 [Refereed]
Research paper (journal) Single author
Introduction: Loneliness in Japan, accentuated by demographic challenges and the hikikomori phenomenon (extreme social withdrawal), has raised concerns. This study critically examines loneliness dynamics, questioning assumptions embedded in hikikomori classifications. The term “hikikomori,” originally signifying prolonged home stay, requires nuanced exploration, especially regarding outgoing behaviors’ relationship with loneliness.
Objectives: Investigating the intricate connection between outgoing behaviors and loneliness, this study questions the effectiveness of existing hikikomori classifications. Aiming to understand if these classifications accurately represent the loneliness spectrum across age groups, the research emphasizes the significance of comprehending loneliness dynamics amid societal challenges. The study explores an array of factors influencing loneliness, including demographics, mental health, and outgoing behaviors, advocating for a reassessment of assumptions linked to hikikomori classifications.
Methods: This secondary analysis employed data from a nationwide Internet addiction survey conducted in July 2012. A sample of 623 participants, representative of Japanese internet users aged 16 and above, was included for analysis. Loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and exposure variables included demographic, mental health, outgoing behaviors, and lifestyle factors. Statistical analyses encompassed descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, chi-square tests, and logistic regression.
Results: Significant differences were observed in loneliness scores based on sex, age, marital status, employment, and outgoing behaviors. Mental health factors, including dissatisfaction with life and romance, life stress, and psychological distress, emerged as strong contributors to loneliness. The study challenges existing hikikomori classifications, suggesting they may not fully encapsulate the loneliness experiences of individuals engaged in routine school or work activities.
Conclusion: Findings underscore the need for a reevaluation of hikikomori, emphasizing loneliness as a complex and multifaceted issue in Japan. The study advocates for nuanced strategies to address loneliness, considering diverse demographic vulnerabilities. Limitations include the pre-pandemic sample and potential unmeasured confounding factors. -
[Challenges, prevention, and countermeasures for social withdrawal (hikikomori) by age group].
Roseline Yong, Kyoko Nomura, Yusuke Takatsuka, Hiromi Imuta, Hitoshi Taniguchi, Hiroto Ito, Tetsuya Ohira, Akizumi Tstsumi
69 ( 12 ) 923 - 930 2022.12 [Refereed] [Invited]
Research paper (journal) Domestic Co-author
The term "hikikomori" was recognized by society between 1980 and 2000, when the term "NEET" also appeared and it was regarded as a problem of irresponsible youth. However, accumulation of surveys and research both in Japan and abroad, including those conducted by the Cabinet Office, has revealed that the reasons behind social withdrawal are not only limited to mental illness. There are many people who exhibit withdrawal because they are unable to establish relationships with the community and other people owing to various factors such as social systems, attachment formation, family background, and education. In other words, withdrawal is better described as a "symptom" or "condition" than a disease. Therefore, it is necessary to understand and analyze the diverse backgrounds and needs of individuals with withdrawal and confront them about their state. Currently, many hikikomori people with prolonged withdrawal are now in their 40s and 50s. With their parents' aging, there are cases where people with hikikomori and their families become socially isolated and are unable to make ends meet. It is undeniable that, until now, the society we live in as a whole has little interest in or understanding of hikikomori. In contrast, withdrawal among older adults (tojikomori), which has become a problem in the super-aging society. Tojikomori is defined as "going out less than once a week and not requiring nursing care", which is not equivalent with hikikomori. Owing to the decline in the frequency of going out among the elderly in the recent coronary crisis, the number of pre-frailty in older adults has become a nationwide problem. Thus, both hikikomori and tojikomori are reversible conditions, and can be alleviated by providing necessary support. This paper summarizes the findings of the symposium "Challenges, Prevention, and Countermeasures for Social Withdrawal (Hikikomori) by Age Group" organized by the Committee on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention of the Japanese Society of Public Health at the 79th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Public Health. This article is a compilation of findings that can benefit public health practitioners and researchers.
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Hikikomori rescue G.I.Joe, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research 17K09191 Report
Roseline Kim Fong Yong, Hisanaga Sasaki, Masato Kitajima
1 ( 1 ) 1 2022.03
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Association between hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal and isolation) and lifestyle, psychosocial factors and social capital
14 ( 1 ) 22 - 28 2018.05
◆Original paper【 display / non-display 】
◆Other【 display / non-display 】
Books 【 display / non-display 】
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Understanding and Supporting Hikikomori: How to Support Individuals and Families in Isolation
2021.03 ISBN: 9784866161198
Academic Awards Received 【 display / non-display 】
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Champion of Change Japan
2021.09 Fish Family Foundation Japan Office [CCJA2021 Leaders25]
Winner： Yong Kim Fong Roseline
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research 【 display / non-display 】
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Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(B)
Project Year： 2024.04 - 2026.03
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Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(B)
Project Year： 2021.04 - 2024.03
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Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C)
Project Year： 2017.04 - 2020.03
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Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C)
Project Year： 2015.04 - 2017.03
Acceptance of contract business 【 display / non-display 】
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Contract period： 2025.08.08 - 2026.03.31
Presentations 【 display / non-display 】
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Catching Before They Fall: A Student-Led Listening Station for Early Mental Health Support and Loneliness Prevention
Roseline Yong, Lydia Ying, Shizune Tanaka
the 33rd IASP World Congress (Vienna) 2025.06 - 2025.06 International Association for Suicide Prevention
Learning Objective
To train students and young adults to act as suicide prevention gatekeepers through
structured learning, reflective practice, and community-based listening outreach, while
promoting self-awareness and peer support.
Background
Suicide remains a major public health concern, linked to isolation, emotional suppression,
and the absence of safe, judgment-free spaces for connection. While mental health
awareness is growing, many young people have limited access to experiential learning that
fosters emotional literacy or real-world engagement in early prevention. Yet these
individuals often serve as informal supporters in their own networks. To address this gap, a
student-led, voluntary training program was developed, combining foundational mental
health education with weekly public engagement through a street-based “listening station”
at Akita Station.
This listening station served not only as a training ground for future gatekeepers but also as
a quiet intervention for loneliness and social disconnection—catching individuals in the
subtle in-between spaces of daily life, between home and school or work. By creating
opportunities for informal human connection in public space, the program aimed to build
trust, emotional awareness, and grassroots-level literacy for mental health.
Methods
The curriculum included seven lecture sessions, each lasting three hours, covering suicide
prevention, stigma, boundaries, active listening, and self-care. These were complemented by
group discussions, role-play, and reflective writing. Students conducted weekly two-hour
outreach at the listening station, offering pamphlets and inviting passersby into
conversation. Engagement varied from brief chats to extended dialogue, with both new and
returning participants. A total of 29 individuals joined the program: 23 university students,
2 high school students, 1 middle school student, and 3 socially withdrawn youth.
Collectively, they attended 74 lectures and completed 386 outreach hours.
Results
Six participants received a Certificate of Course Completion; seven others received a
Certificate of Participation. Students reported increased confidence in engaging individuals
experiencing mental health challenges, greater awareness of stigma, and improved listening
skills. Challenges included initiating conversation, managing emotional burdens, and
navigating difficult topics. Many also reflected on their own emotional needs, becoming
gatekeepers for themselves as well as others.
Discussion
This program demonstrates the value of integrating education, community engagement, and
reflection. While the ultimate goal is suicide prevention, the listening station functions at a
foundational level—offering gentle support before distress becomes crisis. As a
countermeasure to loneliness and disconnection, it empowers students to build bridges in
both public spaces and personal lives. This low-barrier model offers promise for scalable,
grassroots mental health promotion. -
Conversation between Korea and Japanese Young People on the Prevention of Hikikomori Suicide
Roseline Yong [Invited]
Seoul Suicide Prevention International Symposium Seminar Eve Event (Seoul Suicide Prevention Center) 2024.09 - 2024.09 Seoul Suicide Prevention Center
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Empowering Communities: Utilizing Peer Models to Create Safe Spaces for Hikikomori and Prevent Suicide
Roseline Yong [Invited]
International Symposium of Suicide Prevention (Seoul Suicide Prevention Center) 2024.09 - 2024.09 Seoul Suicide Prevention Center
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Insights into User Characteristics of an Online Suicide Prevention Chat Platform in Akita Prefecture: A Data-Driven Exploration
Roseline Yong
International Association for Suicide Prevention’s 11th Asia Pacific Conference (Bangkok) 2024.06 - 2024.06 International Association for Suicide Prevention
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Enhancing Medical Students' Social Awareness & Communication via Listening V olunteer Activities
Shizune Tanaka, Lydia Ying, Sou Sanuki, Risa Fukumoto, Roseline Yong
The 57th Annual Meeting of the Japan Society for Medical Education (Akita) 2025.07 - 2025.07 Japan Society for Medical Education
Teaching Experience 【 display / non-display 】
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Psychiatry Specialiazation School Seminars: Bridging Hikikomori and Psychiatry: Lessons from community engagement in Japan
2025.06University of Padua
This lecture explores the phenomenon of hikikomori through the lens of community-based practice in Japan, examining how prolonged social withdrawal intersects with psychiatric care, social support, and everyday life. Drawing on research and long-term community engagement, the lecture highlights the limitations of purely clinical approaches and emphasizes the importance of relational, non-institutional, and place-based interventions.
By presenting examples from Japanese community initiatives, the lecture illustrates how engagement outside traditional medical settings can complement psychiatric practice, support recovery, and foster social reconnection. Particular attention is given to the role of trust, temporality, and non-demanding relationships in working with individuals experiencing social withdrawal.
The session aims to encourage psychiatry residents to reflect on how community engagement can inform clinical understanding, broaden intervention frameworks, and bridge the gap between psychiatric care and lived experience. -
Insights on Hikikomori
2025.01UKM Medical Centre Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Unit
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Hikikomori Intervention in Japan
2024.09Korea University Graduate School of Medicine
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Empowering Communities: Innovations in Mental Health and Hikikomori
2024.06Korea University Graduate School of Medicine
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2025.04-2026.03
Academic Activity 【 display / non-display 】
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2025.04-2027.03
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2024.05-2026.03
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Akita Prefecture
2022.10-2024.09Member of Akita Prefecture Urban Planning Council
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Nonprofit organization KHJ National Federation of Hikikomori Family Associations, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, FY2019, Social Welfare Promotion Project
2019.07-2020.03Committee to study the establishment of a place for withdrawn persons to live in harmony with the local community
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International Youth Support Forum
2017.07-2018.03Deputy Steering Committee Chairman, Japan-Hong Kong Hikikomori Support Exchange Association
Lifelong learning support results 【 display / non-display 】
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Discussing the future of education and schools in Akita: Considering young people's "truancy," "withdrawal," "self-injury," and "suicide" - the work of the withdrawal support team "Furatto" - Lecturer
Akita Prefectural Teachers' Union 2022 National Campaign for Education Reform: Discussing Akita's Future Education and Schools
2022.11 -
WAM grant project R4 "How to prevent isolation and loneliness and build social connections" series of workshops (11 workshops in total)
NPO HIKIYA Workshop series on "How to prevent isolation and loneliness and build social connections
2022.05-2023.03 -
Akita Prefecture Exchange of Opinions on Creating a Diversity Society
2021.07 -
Lecturer, Akita Inochi no Denwa counselors' workshop
NPO Akita Inochi no Denwa Akita Inochi no Denwa counselors' workshop
2019.11 -
Adjunct Lecturer in Public Health Nakadori Nursing Senior High School
2019.05-Now
Media Report 【 display / non-display 】
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Why Japan's youth are lonelier than their elders - even embracing solitude, at great social cost
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If you feel at ease through conversation, student volunteers listen to listeners in front of Akita Station and other places on a regular basis.
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Our continued efforts to support withdrawn persons
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Why Japan's youth are lonelier than their elders -even embracing solitude, at great social cost
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Japan's Young Are Now Its Loneliest Generation, Overtaking The Old. Why?