Characteristics of and gender difference factors of hikikomori among the working-age population: A cross-sectional population study in rural Japan.

Objectives　This study aimed to assess the relevance of hikikomori to a variety of socio-demographic characteristics and socio-psychological conditions and examined these relationships by gender.Methods　The study employed a cross-sectional design. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 2,459 participants aged 15-64 years and living in Happo-cho, Akita.