Psychology Research and Behavior Management (Apr 2024)
Elderly’s Homesickness: Development of Elderly Homesickness Questionnaire
Abstract
Zeming Deng,1,2 Yuehong Qiu,1,2 Xueer Xiao,3 Can Jiao1,2 1The Shenzhen Humanities & Social Sciences Key Research Bases of the Center for Mental Health, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Shenzhen College of International Education, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Can Jiao, Shenzhen University, 13F-1331, Zhili building L3, Canghai campus, Yuehai Street, Nanshan District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13926576570, Email [email protected]: Homesickness is a result of migration, and is related to adjustment difficulties and health problems, as well as clinical disorders. The aim of this study was to measure and explore the homesickness of Chinese elderly.Methods: A total of 355 non-local Chinese elderly in Shenzhen were recruited to measure demographic information and homesickness. and tested for reliability and validity. Patterns and influences of homesickness among Chinese elderly were explored through latent profile analysis and One-way ANOVA on the basis of EHQ.Results: A three-factor structure was verified in the 19-item elderly homesickness questionnaire (EHQ), namely “positive contact”, “refusal to separate” and “homesickness behavior”. The EHQ reports high validity and reliability. Chinese elderly had a high degree of homesickness, and homesickness among Chinese elderly varied significantly across variables such as age, occupation, and education level. Four homesickness patterns were found in Chinese elderly, named low homesick group, moderate homesick group, middle-high homesick group, and high homesick group. Coming from rural/urban areas and living with grandchildren are factors that affect classification.Conclusion: The present study reveals the high validity and reliability of the EHQ among Chinese elderly. The Chinese elderly reported high levels of homesickness, which varied significantly across levels of demographic factors. Four patterns of homesickness were found among the Chinese elderly, coming from rural/urban areas and living with grandchildren are the factors that affect classification. There may be a masking of the male contribution to the main effect due to the larger female sample.Keywords: homesickness, elderly, questionnaire development
