Homesickness in College Students: The Moderating Effect of Religiousness on the Relationship between Homesickness and Maladjustment

Abstract

This study examined the moderating role of religiousness in relationship between homesickness and depression, alcohol use, and risky sexual behaviors in freshmen college students. Data were collected on 312 freshman (195 female, 117 male, mean age = 18 years). Religiousness was found to moderate the relationships between homesickness and depression and alcohol use; however, the moderation was dependent on the domain of religiousness measured. For the relationship between homesickness and depression, positive religious coping served as a protective factor, while organizational religiousness, private practices, and global religiousness functioned as risk factors. For the relationship between homesickness and alcohol use, private practices served as a protective factor, while personal religiousness was a risk factor. Religiousness had no impact on the relationship between homesickness and sexual behaviors. Results highlight the need for domain-specific religiousness measures, and for an increase in awareness of the role religiousness can play in an individual's adjustment to college.