Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-gtxcr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T00:54:50.570Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Homesickness: a review of the literature

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

M. A. L. Van Tilburg ,
A. J. J. M. Vingerhoets  and
G. L. Van Heck
M. A. L. Van Tilburg*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Tilburg, The Netherlands
A. J. J. M. Vingerhoets
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Tilburg, The Netherlands
G. L. Van Heck
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Tilburg, The Netherlands
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Miranda A. L. Van Tilburg Department of PsychologyUniversity of TilburgPO Box 901535000 LE TilburgThe Netherlands.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Synopsis

Homesickness has not received due attention from psychological researchers, in spite of the fact that it is of considerable interest to counsellors and care-givers of those who have migrated or moved temporarily or permanently (e.g. immigrants, refugees, students, soldiers). First, this review addresses the definition of homesickness, the possible different kinds of homesickness, its prevalence rate, and symptomatology, Secondly, an overview is given of the theories that account for psychological distress following leaving home. These theories link homesickness with separation-anxiety and loss, the interruption of lifestyle, reduced control, role change, and internal conflict. In addition, the review focuses on: (i) studies that show that subjects reporting homesickness differ from non-homesick persons in terms of personality; (ii) the analyses of environmental characteristics that may play a crucial role in the onset and course of homesickness. Thirdly, Fisher's (1989) composite model of homesickness, which summarizes key findings of the major studies on homesickness is discussed. Fourthly, methodological issues are addressed. Finally, suggestions for future research are presented and possibilities for interventions are proposed.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 26 , Issue 5 , September 1996 , pp. 899 - 912
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E. & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of Attachment: A Psychological Study of the Strange Situation. Erlbaum: Hillsdale, NJ.Google Scholar
Alloway, R. & Bebbington, P. (1987). The buffering theory of social support: a review of the literature. Psychological Medicine 17, 91–108.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV, 4th edn.AMA: Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Aroian, K. J. (1990). A model of psychological adaptation to migration and resettlement. Nursing Research 39, 5–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baier, M. & Welch, M. (1992). An analysis of the concept of homesickness. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing 6, 54–60.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bergsma, J. (1963). Militair heimwee (Homesickness in the army). Unpublished Ph.D. thesis. Groningen University, Groningen, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Berry, J. W. (1994). Acculturation and psychological adaptation: an overview.In Journeys into Cross-Cultural Psychology: Selected Papers from the Eleventh International Conference of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (ed. Bouvy, M., Van de Vijver, F. J. R., Boski, P. and Schmitz, P.), pp. 129–141. Swets & Zeitlinger: Lisse.Google Scholar
Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and Loss. Volume I: Attachment. Basic Books: New York.Google Scholar
Brewin, C. R., Furnham, A. & Howes, M. (1989). Demographic and psychological determinants of homesickness and confiding among students. British Journal of Psychology 80, 467–477.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burt, C. D. B. (1993). Concentration and academic ability following transition to university: an investigation of the effects of homesickness. Journal of Environmental Psychology 13, 333–342.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carden, A. I. & Feicht, R. (1991). Homesickness among American and Turkish college students. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology 22, 418–428.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carnelley, K. B., Pietromonaco, P. R. & Jaffe, K. (1994). Depression, working models of others, and relationship functioning. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 66, 127–140.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chartoff, M. B. (1975). A school psychologist goes to camp. Psychology in the School 12, 200–201.3.0.CO;2-2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Vries, J. & Van Heck, G. L. (1994). Quality of life and refugees. International Journal of Mental Health 23, 3–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dijkstra, S. J. & Hendrix, M. J. J. L. (1983). Heimwee, een verkenning (Homesickness, an exploration). De Psycholoog 18, 3–10.Google Scholar
Eisenbruch, M. (1990). Cultural bereavement and homesickness. In On the Move: The Psychology of Transition and Change (ed. Fisher, S. and Cooper, C. L.), pp. 191–206. Wiley: Chichester.Google Scholar
Ekblad, S. (1993). Psychosocial adaptation of children while housed in a Swedish refugee camp: aftermath of the collapse of Yugoslavia. Stress Medicine 9, 159–166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellis, A. (1957). Rational psychotherapy and individual psychology. Journal of Individual Psychology 13, 38–44.Google Scholar
Ellis, A. & Grieger, R. (1986). Handbook of Rational-Emotive Therapy, Vol. 2. Springer: New York..Google Scholar
Eurelings-Bontekoe, E. H. M., Verschuur, M., Koudstaal, A., Van der Sar, S. & Duijsens, I. J. (1995). Construction of a homesickness-questionnaire: Preliminary results. Personality and Individual Differences 19, 319–325.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eurelings-Bontekoe, E. H. M., Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M. & Fontijn, T. (1994). Personality and behavioral antecedents of homesickness. Personality and Individual Differences 16, 229–235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fisher, S. (1989). Homesickness, Cognition, and Health. Erlbaum: London.Google Scholar
Fisher, S. (1990). The psychological effects of leaving home: Homesickness, health and obsessional thoughts. In On the Move: The Psychology of Change and Transition (ed. Fisher, S. and Cooper, C. L.), pp. 153–170. Wiley: Chichester.Google Scholar
Fisher, S. & Hood, B. (1987). The stress of the transition to the university: a longitudinal study of psychological disturbance, absent-mindedness and vulnerability to homesickness. British Journal of Psychology 78, 425–441.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fisher, S. & Hood, B. (1988). Vulnerability factors in the transition to university: self-reported mobility history and sex differences as factors in psychological disturbance. British Journal of Psychology 79, 309–320.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fisher, S., Frazer, N. & Murray, K. (1984). The transition from home to boarding school: a diary-style analysis of the problems and worries of boarding school pupils. Journal of Environmental Psychology 4, 211–221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fisher, S., Murray, K. & Frazer, N. (1985). Homesickness, health, and efficiency in first-year students. Journal of Environmental Psychology 5, 181–195.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fisher, S., Frazer, N. & Murray, K. (1986). Homesickness and health in boarding school children. Journal of Environmental Psychology 6, 35–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fontijn, A. J. (1990). Heimwee als een stress-reactie (Homesickness as a reaction to stress). Unpublished M.Sc. thesis. Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Gijsbers-van Wijk, C. M. T. & Van Vliet, K. P. (1989). ‘Het zieke geslacht’. Over sekseverschillen in morbiditeit, medische consumptie en de rapportage van lichamelijke symptomen (‘The sicker sex’. Sex differences in morbidity, medical consumption, and the reporting of physical symptoms). Gedrag & Gezondheid 17, 59–68.Google Scholar
Gittelman, R. & Klein, D. F. (1985). Childhood separation anxiety and adult agoraphobia. In Anxiety and the Anxiety Disorders (ed. Tuma, A. H. and Maser, J. D.), pp. 389–402. Erlbaum: Hillsdale, NJ.Google ScholarPubMed
Grove, C. L. & Torbiörn, I. (1985). A new conceptualization of intercultural adjustment and the goals of training. International Journal of Intercultural Relations 9, 205–233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gruijters, I. (1992). Heimwee en situatiekenmerken (Homesickness and situation characteristics). Unpublished M.Sc. thesis. Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Hamdi, M. E. (1974). Crisis intervention as a model for facilitating the adjustment of severely homesick children. Devereux FORUM 9, 15–20.Google Scholar
Hertz, D. G. (1988). Identity – lost and found: patterns of migration and psychological and psychosocial adjustment of migrants. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 78 (344, Suppl.), 159–165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hojat, M. & Herman, M. W. (1985). Adjustment and psychological problems of Iranian and Filipino physicians in the US. Journal of Clinical Psychology 41, 131–136.3.0.CO;2-K>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holmes, T. H. & Rahe, R. H. (1967). The Social Readjustment Rating Scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 11, 213–218.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jacobs, T. J. & Charles, E. (1980). Life events and the occurrence of cancer in children. Psychosomatic Medicine 1, 11–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jaspers, K. (1909). Heimweh und Verbrechen (Homesickness and crime). Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. University of Heidelberg, Leipzig, Germany.Google Scholar
Juthani, N. V. (1992). Immigrant mental health: conflicts and concerns of Indian immigrants in the USA. Psychology and Developing Societies 4, 134–148.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Khoa, L. X. & Van Deusen, J. M. (1981). Social and cultural customs: their contribution to resettlement. Journal of Refugee Resettlement 1, 48–51.Google Scholar
Larbig, W., Xenakis, C. & Onishi, M. S. (1979). Psychosomatische Symptome und funktionelle Beschwerden bei Arbeitnehmern im Ausland – Japaner und Griechen in Deutschland, Deutsche im Ausland (Psychosomatic and functional symptoms of Japanese and Greeks in Germany, and Germans in foreign countries). Zeitschrift für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychoanalyse 25, 49–63.Google Scholar
Leff, M. J., Roatch, J. F. & Bunney, W. E. Jr. (1970). Environmental factors preceding the onset of severe depressions. Psychiatry 33, 293–311.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lin, K. M., Masuda, M. & Tazuma, L. (1982). Adaptational problems of Vietnamese refugees: III. Case studies in clinic and field: adaptive and maladaptive. Psychiatric Journal of the University of Ottowa, 7, 173–183.Google ScholarPubMed
Lu, L. (1990). Adaptation to British universities: homesickness and mental health of Chinese students. Counselling Psychology Quarterly 3, 225–232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mandler, G. (1990). Interruption (discrepancy) theory: review and extensions. In On the Move: The Psychology of Change and Transition (ed. Fisher, S. and Cooper, C. L.), pp. 13–32. Wiley: Chichester.Google Scholar
Mesxaros, A. F. (1961). Types of displacement reactions among post revolution Hungarian immigrants. Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal 6, 9–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, D. F. & Harwell, D. J. (1983). International students at an American university: health problems and status. Journal of School Health 1, 45–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mollica, R. F., Donelan, K., Svang Tor, B. A. & Lavalle, J. (1994). Repatriation and disability: A Community Study of Health, Mental Health, and Social Functioning of the Khmer Residents of Site Two. Indochinese Psychiatric Clinic (77 Warren St., Brighton, MA, 02135), (World Federation for Mental Health): Brighton, MA.Google Scholar
Mooy, J. N. (1995). Non-insuline-dependent diabetes mellitus in a general Caucasian population: the Hoorn study. Unpublished M.Sc. thesis, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Pennebaker, J. W., Colder, M. & Sharp, L. K. (1990). Accelerating the coping process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 58, 528–537.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pettem, O., West, M., Mahoney, A. & Keller, A. (1993). Depression and attachment problems. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience 18, 78–81.Google ScholarPubMed
Porritt, D. & Taylor, D. (1981). An exploration of homesickness among student nurses. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 15, 57–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Proshansky, H. M., Fabian, A. K. & Kaminoff, R. (1983). Place-identity: physical world socialization of the self. Journal of Environmental Psychology 3, 57–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosen, G. (1975). Nostalgia: a ‘forgotten’ psychological disorder. Psychological Medicine 5, 340–354.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sarason, B. R., Sarason, I. G. & Pierce, G. R. (1990). Social Support: An Interactional View. Wiley: New York.Google Scholar
Schmitz, P. G. (1992). Immigrant mental health and physical health. Psychology and Developing Societies 4, 117–131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schmitz, P. G. (1994). Acculturation and adaptation processes among immigrants in Germany.In Journeys into Cross-Cultural Psychology: Selected Papers from the Eleventh International Conference of the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (ed. Bouvy, M., Van de Vijver, F. J. R., Boski, P. and Schmitz, P.), pp. 142–157. Swets & Zeitlinger: Lisse.Google Scholar
Taylor, R. E. (1986). Homesickness, melancholy and blind rehabilitation. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness 80, 800–802.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thijs, H. (1992). Heimwee en andere emoties (Homesickness and other emotions). Unpublished M.Sc. thesis. Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Van Heck, G. L., De Raad, B. & Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M. (1993). De Pavlov-Temperament-Schaal (PTS) (The Pavlov-Temperament Survey (PTS)). Nederlands Tijdschrift voor de Psychologie 48, 141–142.Google Scholar
Van Tilburg, M. A. L., Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M., Kirschbaum, C. & Van Heck, G. L. (1996). Mood changes in homesick persons during a holiday trip: a multiple case study. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 65, 91–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Verbrugge, L. M. (1985). Gender and health: an update on hypotheses and evidence. Journal of Health and Social Behavior 26, 156–182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M., Van Tilburg, M. A. L. & Van Heck, G. L. (1995). Determinants of the intensity of self-reported homesickness. Psychosomatic Medicine 57, 93–94.Google Scholar
Voolstra, A. (1992). Heimwee en persoonlijkheid (Homesickness and personality). Unpublished M.Sc. thesis. Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Weissman, M. M. & Paykel, E. S. (1973). Moving and depression in women. In Loneliness: The Experience of Emotional and Social Isolation (ed. Weiss, R. S.), pp. 154–164. MIT Press: Cambridge.Google Scholar
West, M., Rose, M. S. & Sheldon, A. (1993). Anxious attachment as a determinant of adult psychopathology. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 181, 422–427.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Westermeyer, J., Vang, T. F. & Neider, J. (1983). Migration and mental health among Hmong refugees. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 171, 92–96.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Winland-Brown, J. E. & Maheady, D. (1990). Using intuition to define homesickness at summer camp. Journal of Psychiatric Health Care 4, 117–121.Google ScholarPubMed