Prediction of Newcomer Students’ Homesickness based on Hopefulness and Attachment Style

Abstract

Current study aimed to predict the degree of newcomer students’ homesickness based on hopefulness and attachment styles. In order to conduct the study, 170 first-year students of Buali Sina University of Hamedan were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Then, the use was made of Adult Attachment Inventory, (Hazen and Shaver 1987), Sympson’s Adult Domain-Specific Hope Scale (1999) and Archers’ et al. Homesickness Questionnaire (1998). Data analysis was performed by hierarchical regression and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Results of hierarchical regression showed that secure attachment (p<.0001) and hopefulness (p<.002) significantly and negatively predicted homesickness feelings. Moreover, results of analysis of covariance showed that gender significantly affected on homesickness beyond the hopefulness and attachment styles variables; so that, compared to female students, males experience less homesickness feeling (p<.004). It can be concluded that secure attachment, hopefulness and gender (male) effectively decrease newcomer students’ degrees of homesickness.

Keywords

• homesickness
• attachment styles
• hopefulness
• university students