Basic psychological needs and parental bonding in Italian adults at high risk of hikikomori (extreme social withdrawal): the distinctive association of Competence Frustration with symptom severity

This brief research report explored the relationships between hikikomori symptom severity (extreme social withdrawal), basic psychological needs of Competence, Autonomy, and Relatedness, and perceived parental bonding in Italian adults experiencing social isolation. Participants (N = 33; Mage = 27.83, SD = 7.46; 42.9% women) were individuals recruited online who scored above the high-risk cutoff for hikikomori on the Hikikomori Questionnaire-25 (HQ-25). They completed the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS) and the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). Competence Frustration accounted for substantial variability in hikikomori symptom severity in this high-risk sample, explaining approximately 31% of the variance. Regarding perceived parental bonding, maternal Care was positively associated with Autonomy Satisfaction and negatively with Competence Frustration, whereas maternal Control was positively related to frustration of all three needs. Paternal Care was negatively related to Autonomy and Competence Frustration, while paternal Control was positively associated with Relatedness Frustration. Over 30% of participants perceived maternal bonding as Affectionless Control and paternal bonding as either Affectionless Control or Neglectful. No gender differences emerged. Findings suggest that Competence Frustration may represent a key psychological correlate of hikikomori symptom severity in this high-risk group. Moreover, distinct maternal and paternal patterns of perceived Care and Control were associated with need frustration and satisfaction, as well as with the hikikomori dimension of perceived lack of Emotional Support. Study limitations include small sample size, cross-sectional design, reliance on self-report measures, and potential selection bias toward help-seeking individuals. Replication in larger longitudinal samples is warranted to confirm these preliminary results.