Hikikomori from the Perspective of Overuse, Underuse, and Optimal Use of Character Strengths: Case Reports

Hikikomori, or social withdrawal youth has become one of the most pressing social issues in Japan and this phenomenon is increasing in other countries as well. While there is a movement to pathologize this phenomenon as a new psychological disorder, these case reports provide a fresh perspective of hikikomori using the lens of character strengths in the scientific field of positive psychology. These case reports illustrate how the hikikomori phenomenon can be understood, at least in part, using the framework of character strengths overuse, underuse, and optimal use by conducting the character strengths intervention for hikikomori youth. The authors offer examples of combinations of overuse and underuse of character strengths, with particular attention to the unique signature strengths, among hikikomori youth. Future directions of research include an empirical investigation of the relationship between the hikikomori phenomenon and the notion of overuse, underuse, and optimal use of character strengths, potentially using research methodology.

The Culture of Strengths Makes Them Feel Valued and Competent: Aboriginal Children, Child Welfare, and a School Strengths Intervention

Schools are an important community partner in providing structural supports and wrap around services for children involved with the child welfare system. In this paper, we discuss the implementation of a culturally sensitive strengths-based intervention approach within an elementary school and its value to Aboriginal children. This article discusses the theoretical foundation of the strengths intervention approach and provides a description of a strength assessment tool as well as the implementation of the intervention with specific relevance to Aboriginal students involved with the child welfare system. Two case studies are presented, which illustrate the value of the strengths approach for individual students.

“Cannot see? Use your strengths!” A randomized controlled trial of strengths intervention for improving self-esteem among visually impaired individuals

Objective: To evaluate the association between strengths use and self-esteem among visually impaired individuals in Study 1 and reveal the causal effect of a strengths intervention in Study 2. Design: A prospective cross-sectional design in Study 1 and a randomized controlled, open-label, parallel-group comparative design in Study 2. Setting: Several welfare institutions for visually impaired individuals in the Kanto area of Japan. Subjects: In Study 1, 59 participants with visual impairments (mean age = 49.34 ± 4.89 years, range = 22–82 years) were recruited. In Study 2, participants (mean age = 41.36 ± 12.09 years, range = 22–61 years) were recruited and randomly assigned to an intervention ( n = 11) or wait-list control group ( n = 11). Intervention: A strengths intervention was performed in Study 2. Main measures: In Study 1, we examined the association between Strengths Use Scale and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale scores. In Study 2, the primary outcome was the difference in change in Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale scores from baseline to one-month follow-up between the groups. Results: In Study 1, simple and multiple regression analyses revealed that the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale score was significantly associated with the Strengths Use Scale score (β = 0.60, P < 0.001; β = 0.55, P < 0.001, respectively). In Study 2, we found a significant between-groups difference in the improvement in Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale scores from baseline to one-month follow-up ( F(1, 19) = 18.61, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Utilizing psychological strengths might improve self-esteem among visually impaired individuals.