Young people in transition: the relationship between homesickness and self-disclosure

Whilst the majority of new students cope well with the transition to university, a number experience levels of homesickness which can adversely affect the process of adaptation. In this study the relationship between homesickness and self-disclosure, seen as a possible mediating factor, was assessed in a sample of 83 students (mean age 18.0541 years, s.d.=7.055 months) at the start of their first semester and then 6 weeks later. The results showed that homesickness declined during the semester whilst levels of self-disclosure increased. A significant negative association was found between levels of self-disclosure and homesickness at both time periods. High self-disclosers experienced a significantly greater reduction in homesickness than low self-disclosers. The results showed the importance of the socially-mediated and supportive benefits of self-disclosure during this life transition.