Self-reported homesickness in Australian adolescent males during their first year at boarding school: an exploratory study of symptomatic features, its dimensionality, coping strategies, and the relationship with academic, resilience, emotional and mental wellbeing factors

ABSTRACT Objective To explore the symptomatic features of homesickness in Australian adolescent males during their first year at boarding school, as well as its dimensionality, coping strategies, and the relationship with academic, resilience, emotional and mental health factors. Method Drawing on a larger, longitudinal study (n = 174 students), survey responses were collected from 29 male participants aged 11–12 years at one non-government boarding school (K-12) located in Western Australia. Results Exploratory statistical analysis found one-third did not experience homesickness, with almost one-third of participants experiencing a single episode of homesickness lasting for one week and one in five reporting recurrent episodes throughout the first year. Further, homesickness was not necessarily associated with specific negative emotions such as sadness or provoking problematic thoughts towards boarding school, cognitive impairment in class and somatisation. However, school-orientated homesickness was associated with a greater vulnerability to non-specific psychological distress, conduct problems, peer problems, and overall total difficulties. A range of productive coping strategies used by participants to ameliorate homesickness. Conclusion Findings are discussed within the context of the existing literature and wider setting of adolescence and insight from a developmental science perspective. Potential implications for practice and future directions are presented, as are the limitations of this study. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: (1) A general paucity exists in Australian empirical studies exploring homesickness in adolescent male boarding students. (2) International studies link homesickness in boys with a wide range of somatic, internalising and externalising behavioural problems, as well as with social and emotional instability, and greater vulnerability to psychopathology such as anxiousness and depressive symptoms. (3) Prior research suggests help-seeking skill deficits and maladaptive responses to homesickness by Australian male boarding students, such as ignoring problems or keeping difficulties to self. What this topic adds: (1) It provides new insight into symptomatic features of homesickness as reported by Australian adolescent male boarding students and evidences the utilisation of adaptive behaviours and productive coping strategies. (2) It offers a preliminary understanding of the relationship homesickness might have with academic, resilience, emotional and mental health factors. (3) In practice, this study may serve to underscore the benefits of a dual approach when treating homesickness in Australian adolescent male boarding students. One that considers factors specific to home and school and integrates this knowledge to guide case formulation and treatment planning.