i A Qualitative Approach: The Experiences of GCC Students in Ireland with Homesickness By Ibrahim AlOthman X17150710 A Thesis National College of Ireland In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelors of Arts (Honors) in Psychology Submitted: March 2020 ii Submission of Thesis to Norma Smurfit Library, National College of Ireland Student name: _____Ebraheem AlOthman_________________________ Student number: ____x17150710______________ School: _____School of Business______________________________ Course: ___Psychology_______________________ Degree to be awarded: ____BA (Honours) in Psychology_____________________________________________________ Title of Thesis: A Qualitative Approach: The Experiences of GCC Students in Ireland with Homesickness ____________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ One hard bound copy of your thesis will be lodged in the Norma Smurfit Library and will be available for consultation. The electronic copy will be accessible in TRAP (http://trap.ncirl.ie/), the National College of Ireland’s Institutional Repository. In accordance with normal academic library practice all theses lodged in the National College of Ireland Institutional Repository (TRAP) are made available on open access. I agree to a hard bound copy of my thesis being available for consultation in the library. I also agree to an electronic copy of my thesis being made publicly available on the National College of Ireland’s Institutional Repository TRAP. Signature of Candidate: ____________________________________________________________ For completion by the School: The aforementioned thesis was received by__________________________ Date:_______________ This signed form must be appended to all hard bound and electronic copies of your thesis submitted to your school iii Submission of Thesis and Dissertation National College of Ireland Research Students Declaration Form (Thesis/Author Declaration Form) Name: Ebraheem AlOthman Student Number: x17150710 Degree for which thesis is submitted: BA (Honours) in Psychology Material submitted for award (a) I declare that the work has been composed by myself. (b) I declare that all verbatim extracts contained in the thesis have been distinguished by quotation marks and the sources of information specifically acknowledged. (c) My thesis will be included in electronic format in the College Institutional Repository TRAP (thesis reports and projects) (d) Either *I declare that no material contained in the thesis has been used in any other submission for an academic award. Or *I declare that the following material contained in the thesis formed part of a submission for the award of ________________________________________________________________ (State the award and the awarding body and list the material below) Signature of research student: _____________________________________ Date: _____________________ iv Abstract This study investigates the experiences of students from countries in the GCC with homesickness studying in Ireland and explores the experiences of these students with homesickness that are unique to students with these cultural backgrounds. Participants in this study (N=12) were recruited via snowball sampling, and included participants from all GCC countries with the exception of Kuwait and Qatar. A thematic analysis of the Semi-structured interviews informs the discussion of this paper. Experiences of participants with homesickness, such as symptoms, triggers, and developments it lead to, supports previous findings on homesickness in student populations. This study did however find increased feelings of cultural identity to persist following their experience with homesickness. Experiences of homesickness and living abroad unique to students from GCC countries were also found. These experiences included higher levels of responsibility stemming from the ease of life in their home countries, increased feelings of isolation due to the collectivist structure of their home societies, and religious factors that hindered opportunities to socialize with their western peers. This study helps to fill the gap in homesickness research on this particular cohort of the population and may better inform students and their governments on the importance of this issue. Keywords: homesickness, university students, GCC, cultural influences v Dedication I would firstly like to dedicate this thesis to my old man, whom has provided me every possible opportunity for success in life. I am infinitely grateful for the many lessons that you have taught me and for your undying devotion to your children. You are responsible for making me into the man I am today and saying that you are my role model would be a colossal understatement. I strive to follow the example you have set for me until my dying day and will try my very best to uphold the values you have so deeply instilled in me. Secondly, I would like to dedicate this thesis to my family members. To my beloved mother who raised me and has been there for me every step of the way and to the many sacrifices you have made for us that have not gone unnoticed. I would also like to dedicate this thesis to my younger sister and older brother, who constantly inspire me to work harder and to be a better person; I have no doubt that the two of you are destined for success in all your future endeavours. It is my sincerest hope that I can continue to make you all proud. Lastly, I would like to dedicate my thesis to the country that I owe everything to my country, Kuwait. Aside from being an inseparable part of who I am, missing you served as inspiration for writing this research. You sponsored my education and I dedicate all my future success to you. -Ibrahim Abdulrhaman Khalid AlOthman -اﺑﺮاھﯿﻢ ﻋﺒﺪاﻟﺮﺣﻤﺎن ﺧﺎﻟﺪ اﻟﻌﺜﻤﺎن vi Table of Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Method ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Participants ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Materials ............................................................................................................................................ 7 Design ................................................................................................................................................. 7 Procedure .......................................................................................................................................... 8 Results ....................................................................................................................................... 9 Themes ............................................................................................................................................... 9 What is Homesickness? .................................................................................................................... 9 Definitions ...................................................................................................................................... 9 Symptoms ...................................................................................................................................... 10 Dealing with Homesickness ........................................................................................................... 11 Homesickness Triggers ................................................................................................................ 11 Coping Strategies ......................................................................................................................... 12 Personal Development .................................................................................................................... 13 Growth as a Result of Experiences .............................................................................................. 13 Advice ........................................................................................................................................... 14 Personal Experience with Lving Abroad ..................................................................................... 14 Degree of Immersion in Irish Culture .......................................................................................... 14 Difficulties of Living Abroad ........................................................................................................ 14 Cultural Differences ....................................................................................................................... 15 Traditions ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Family and Friends ...................................................................................................................... 16 Artefacts and other values ............................................................................................................ 16 Domestic Employees .................................................................................................................... 16 Discussion ..............................................................................................................................