Every September new university students arrive on campus ready to move in but in the chaos of unpacking boxes and stacking shelves many forget what the next few weeks may feel like.
Homesickness is one of the first big issues new students can encounter at university. StudyGS, an organisation dedicated to delivering college/university guides to students, has reported that 69% of first year students experience mild to severe homesickness, and that while these feelings tend to decrease over time 30% of students say they feel homesick throughout their whole academic journey. It goes without saying that international students would feel the strain of being far from home more than others at the university, this can be seen in the results of a recent poll by StudyGS in which 47% of international students reported feeling homesick. Its also been said that gender can be a factor in regards to how quickly students can settle into their new normal. Studies say that male students report feeling homesick a lot less that female students, with female students more likely to seek support from their schools support networks.
Fortunately, over the years ways have been found to not only navigate but also overcome feelings of homesickness, one such method is to acknowledge and address the feelings with a member of staff or a member of the family.
Many students may forget that while they battle with homesickness their parents may be suffering from the lesser known empty nest syndrome. Empty nest syndrome is characterised as: sadness or emotional distress affecting parents who’s children have left home.
A study carried out on 1,000 parents of first year students, conducted by Unite Students (the Uk’s largest provider of student accommodation) states that 98% of parents say they have experienced extreme grief after dropping their child off at university.
An Instagram poll posted by the mental health charity Solent Mind brings light to this issue as it revealed 56% of mothers had experienced or expected to experience the sadness that is empty nest syndrome. The poll also highlighted the lack of support and advice available to parents suffering from their children’s absence when 83% of the people that responded stated that they felt abandoned or forgotten in their time of need.
People respond to empty nest syndrome differently with some considering adopting a pet, starting a new hobby and in some cases considering renting out space in their home.