Moving far away is difficult, especially for students who have been accustomed to living with their families since their earliest memories. The first few weeks at college on their own can be a rough experience for new students as they must become accustomed to learning the layout and culture of a new city as well as create an entirely new social circle from the ground up. Indeed, it is not uncommon to hear about first-year students suffering from homesickness because these students are leaving behind the social support sources that they’ve cultivated for years and entering a wild frontier of unknowns.
Common as it may be, homesickness can also be detrimental to studies and general well-being if it is prolonged. Most new students get over their homesickness within a few weeks as they successfully settle and adapt to their new lives away from home and establish a new social support network of college classmates, friends, and colleagues. However, some continue to feel lonely, isolated, and homesick. For these students, their feelings of homesickness can lead to an inability to concentrate, a lack of desire to perform well on academics, and an overall lack of enthusiasm to participate in any activity, according to an article in the Journal of Environmental Psychology. This can greatly affect their life at college and may even lead to depression and academic failure if left unnoticed.
Those with former incidents of depression and anxiety are more likely to exhibit signs of prolonged homesickness, which is homesickness that lasts more than six weeks. In addition, those who view their homes positively and those with poor social skills are more likely to experience prolonged homesickness as they will find it more difficult to leave their home behind for college, a study conducted by Loyola University asserts. Students who still feel homesick, sad, and anxious after going through a sufficient adjustment period should seek out help. Many schools offer counseling services to aid students in adjusting to life on campus and these counselors can be great resources to help students get back on their feet. Regular contact with family members and friends can also aid in alleviating the symptoms of homesickness, as well as going out and getting involved in campus activities. The best way to combat homesickness at college is to build a new social support network on campus to fill the void that leaving a previous social circle caused.
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