Psychological effects of homesickness: Contingencies of self-worth as a moderator

Previous studies show that homesickness and psychological vulnerabilities are related, but the moderating role of contingencies of self-worth in this relationhip has not been studied. The aim of this study is to determine the moderating role of the contingencies of self-worth in the relationship between homesickness and depression, somatization and psychological well-being. The role of each domain of contingencies of self- worth is analyzed as a moderator variable and the results are discussed. However, as a result of the analyzes, it was decided that the contingencies of self-worth could be a predictor variable in a mediating relationship. Thus, the mediation analyhsis was done. In this analysis the role of internal and external contingencies of self-worth was tested as a predictor variable. The studies show that the internal contingencies of self-worth is related to positive emotions and the external contingencies of self-worth is related to negative emotions. Also according to the relative literature, the role of insecure attachment styles was tested as a predictor variable too. The sample consists of 292 first year students with an average age of 19 who study at Hacettepe University. Participants were asked to complete 8 different scales; Demographic Form, The Utrecht Homesickness Scale, The Contingencies of Self-Worth Scale, CES-Depression Scale, PHQ15-Scale, Experiences in Close Relationships-Revise (ECR-R), Perceived Social Support Scale and Psychological Well-Being Scale. Process analysis (Hayes, 2017) models 1 and 3 were used. Results revealed that homesickness positively correlated with depression and somatization and negatively correlated with psychological well-being. External contingencies of self-worth moderated the relationship between homesickness and psychological well-being, and external contingencies of self-worth and gender co-moderated the relationship between homesickness and somatization. The results of the current study are consistent with literature. According to these results contingencies of self-worth predict somatic symptoms and psychological well-being. Also the results showed that internal contingencies of self-worth are positively correlated with psychological well-being. Furthermore external contingencies of self-worth are positively correlated with somatic symptoms.The results were discussed in the light of the relevant literature.