Parenting styles, coping strategies, and the expression of homesickness.

Full Abstract

The present study examined the role of parenting styles in the experience and expression of homesickness, and the way of coping with the feelings involved. Using a sample of 670 first year college and university students, aged 16 to 25, we tested three hypotheses:
(1) authoritarian, permissive as well as uninvolved parenting are associated with the experience of homesickness, contrary to students with authoritative parents who are less likely to have feelings of homesickness; (2) students with authoritarian, permissive or uninvolved parents show their homesickness by internalizing and externalizing problems; and (3) students raised by authoritative or permissive parents use more effective coping strategies to deal with homesickness. Results indicated that students raised by authoritative and permissive parents experienced more homesickness with stronger feelings of homesickness than students raised by authoritarian or uninvolved parents. However, they hardly express homesickness by internalizing or externalizing problems when they use effective ways of coping, namely support-seeking and/or problem-solving. Students with parents endorsing an authoritarian or uninvolved parenting style, on the other hand, showed more internalizing and externalizing problems in reaction to feelings of homesickness. They also use less effective coping strategies. The results revealed the importance of a loving and accepting home environment for the development and expression of homesickness, as well as the importance of the way in which students learn to cope with their problems.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Nijhof, Karin S (KS); Engels, Rutger C M E (RC);

Affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. k.nijhof(-atsign-)bsi.ru.nl

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of adolescence (J Adolesc), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Oct; vol 30 (issue 5) : pp 709-20

Dates: Created 2007/09/17; Completed 2008/01/02;

PMID: 17258804, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adaptation, Psychological
Adolescent
Adult
Female
Humans
Loneliness - psychology

Loneliness - psychology
Male
Netherlands
Parenting
Questionnaires
Universities

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

[Cross-cultural study on loneliness of students at the University of the Free State] 29 Apr 2004
Auditory and psychological factors in 'auditory disability with normal hearing'. 30 Dec 1991
Derivation of a homesickness scale. 29 Apr 1998
Cultural background and coping with loneliness. 27 Feb 1999
The relationship of parental attachment and psychological separation to the psychological functioning of young adults. 30 Jul 2000
Effects of a coping intervention on patients with rheumatic diseases: results of a randomized controlled trial. 30 Jan 2001
The meaning of being in ethically difficult care situations in paediatric care as narrated by female Registered Nurses. 30 Aug 2003
Correlations of religious beliefs with Loneliness for an undergraduate sample. 30 May 2004
Loneliness and social support of mothers of chronically ill children. 30 Dec 1990
Loneliness and psychological distress. 29 Apr 1991

See 100+ related articles.