Leaving Home

Abstract A phenomenological analysis of interviews with first year college students found that participants whose parents lived farthest away reported greater homesickness and made more visits home than did those whose parents lived closer. Homesick students showed lower scores on measures of self-esteem, ego identity and internal locus of control, and indicated an emphasis on denial, a longing for family and friends, and missing one's house and hometown. Adjustment included an appreciation for newly made friends at college, making the dormitory room feel more homelike, maintaining email and telephone contact with parents and old friends, and generally viewing the experience as process.