Homesickness and behavioral problems among boarding Schools Children

Abstract

The present study aimed at exploring the relationship between homesickness and behavioral problems among boarding school children. The study complises students from different boarding schools of Rawalpindi and Islamabad with the age range of 12 to 18 years (M =1 5.71 ;SD =1.47). Homesickness Scale (Archer et aI., 1998) and Child Problem Checklist (Tariq &H ani f, 2007) were used in this research to assess the variables of study. Results show that homesickness is positively related with behavioral problems. Results show that girls experience more homesickness as compared to boys. Moreover, the boys experience more externalizing problems and girls experience more internalizing behavioral problems among boarding school children. The result also shows that young adolescents experience more homesickness than middle adolescents but no age differences are found on externalizing and internalizing behavioral problems. The results on grade level revealed that middle grade students experience more homesickness as compared to secondary and higher secondary students. However, the students of secondary grade level were found high on externalizing problems than students of middle and higher secondary level. The results of demographic vari abl es were also di scussed and explained in the light of literature. This study will facilitate parents and teachers of educational institutes like boarding in order to know how students view homesickness and what measures are the ri sk and protective factors. This study will guide staff of boarding schools to better meet the needs of students which will decrease homesickness and behavioral issues and promote healthy and significant ways ofliving in boarding.