Student Homesickness: 5 Myths

Madison, Wis.—July 11 — Although college student homesickness is a familiar concept, myths about it persist, says Chris Thurber, who has been conducting research on homesickness for more than a decade. These myths make us less effective in helping prevent and respond to student homesickness, Thurber said during the July 11 online seminar “Powerful New Tools for Homesickness Prevention and Treatment.”

“One of the things I’ve learned in my research is that homesickness does not remit on its own, so the generic advice we give [to homesick students] doesn’t work,” he noted.

During the workshop, Thurber, a school psychologist at Phillips Exeter Academy and author of numerous book chapters and scholarly articles on homesickness prevention, outlined five commonly held myths about homesickness among college students:

Myth 1: Homesickness will disappear on its own, given enough time. Talking about homesickness only makes it worse.
Fact: Students need to be given tools to recognize and face homesick feelings.

Myth 2: Homesickness is related to geographical distance.
Fact: “Cultural distance” is a risk factor for homesickness, but distance in miles is not.

Myth 3: A younger student is more likely than an older student to be homesick.
Fact: A student of any age who has no previous separation experience is more likely to be homesick than a younger student who’s been away from home.

Myth 4: Only first-year students get homesick.
Fact: Changes in the home or school environment can make even a college junior or senior have persistent thoughts about being back home.

Myth 5: Contact with home will only exacerbate homesickness.
Fact: Contact with home deepens homesickness only to the extent that it gets in the way of engaging with the new campus environment.

If you missed the July 11 seminar and would like to order a transcript or CD of the event, visit our online store.

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