"Children Who Don't Talk to Parents... Due to Lack of Experience Being Understood"

"Isolation Mostly in Youth... Early Detection Needed in Adolescence"
"Adolescents Isolated and Withdrawn Who Dislike Talking to Parents
Have Few Experiences of Being Understood"

Regarding the estimated 140,000 isolated and reclusive youths aged 13 to 18, Yoon Cheol-kyung, Executive Director of the GL Youth Research Foundation, stated, "Bullying, academic failure, and employment failure are merely triggers for isolation and reclusion, not the root causes." He explained that these youths feel loneliness because they have not had the opportunity to grow according to their sensitive and delicate temperament.

On the 25th, during MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus," Yoon said, "They experience shrinkage at home and school, self-denial, and lack of self-esteem formation, then encounter triggers such as bullying and academic or employment failure," adding, "Since these friends have low energy and are lethargic, they lack the strength to cope when such triggers occur and end up collapsing."

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Regarding communication with children showing early signs of isolation and reclusion, Yoon advised, "When children do not want to talk, it is simply because they have had few experiences of being understood or accepted, not because they are lazy or incompetent," and recommended, "It is best to accept the child as they are." He also pointed out, "Parents think it is a big problem if their child drops out of school and try to force them to adapt to school. However, even if the child adapts, it causes severe frustration, so they do not build strength." Yoon suggested, "I would like to encourage parents to look for small schools, alternative schools, or alternative programs where their child can live happily and enjoyably," adding, "If that time is happy, energy is recharged, and the child gains the strength to cope with difficulties that arise later."

He emphasized the need for early detection and intervention of isolation and reclusion symptoms during adolescence. Yoon said, "Children who run around, cause trouble, or become perpetrators of school violence tend to receive more attention from schools," and added, "There must be cooperation between schools and parents to properly respond to low-energy children who are quiet and lack motivation." He further explained, "These children are quiet and obedient, so what teachers see differs from what parents see at home," and noted, "Parents often fail to notice early signs, and only become alarmed when these children completely give up."

Yoon stated, "The first time reclusion usually occurs is in the early to mid-20s," and noted, "Even if early signs appear during adolescence, it does not necessarily lead to reclusion, and the rate is low." He continued, "When children do not want to go to school or are frequently late or absent, parents often struggle to send them to school, but they need to observe carefully," emphasizing, "Since the child may have experienced bullying or other issues in friendships, it is important to resolve these well."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.