The Science of Homesickness: Why We Miss Home and How to Cope

Introduction: Why Missing Home Is More Human Than You Think

As individuals, it is very common for us to think we are alone in going through a specific hardship. But as human beings, we often underestimate how universal our experiences are. Being homesick is one of them.

The Cambridge dictionary defines homesickness as "the feeling of being unhappy because of being away from home for a long period". The word was translated from the German word Heimweh in the 18th century, combining Heim ("home") and Weh ("woe" or "pain").

Homesickness doesn't discriminate: it affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, and almost everyone experiences it and has to deal with it at some point in life. It affects both college students living far from their hometown and migrants who have moved to another country in pursuit of a better future. Homesickness can appear in the weeks or months after a move, either immediately or long after the initial excitement has faded.

In this article we'll explore the science behind homesickness, the specific aspects of home that people miss most, insights from newly released migrant study, as well as practical ways to cope with homesickness abroad.

The Science Behind Homesickness

The human brain loves familiarity. Modern neuroscience views the brain as a prediction system that constantly tries to anticipate what will happen next. In familiar environments, it is easier for our brain to predict what will happen, and, over time, it learns to associate certain places, routines, relationships, and cultural cues with safety. In Psychological Aspects of Geographical Moves, Van Tilburg and colleagues explain that people develop emotional attachments to places through familiarity, routines, memories, social relationships, and feelings of security. Therefore, it is completely understandable that moving away from these familiar surroundings can trigger feelings of distress.

Being homesick can be an intense psychological experience. Stroebe et al. (2016) even refer to homesickness as a "mini-grief," arguing that the feeling is not just about being sad to be away. Like grief, homesickness involves longing, preoccupation with what was left behind, and emotional distress. In their new environment, individuals have to adapt to life without the familiar people, routines, and surroundings that used to provide them with comfort and stability. They may also encounter powerful triggers: certain foods, songs, smells, or familiar sounds can instantly evoke memories of home, often when they least expect it. Additionally, missing home while abroad is often connected to belonging, not just geography. Many people do not simply miss a place, they miss how they felt there.

In addition to the psychological aspect, homesickness can also have a physical impact on an individual. Stroebe et al. (2016) mention symptoms such as insomnia, appetite changes, gastrointestinal difficulties, immune deficiencies, and memory problems. Van Tilburg's paper adds sleep disturbances, headaches, and fever to the list.

Homesickness is not simply a passing feeling of nostalgia. It is a complex response to separation from familiar people, places, and routine, and it can affect both emotional and physical well-being.

What Do We Really Miss When We Miss Home?

Each person experiences homesickness differently, but research shows that so many people actually miss the same things.

Firstly, people miss their people. Their family, friends, neighbors, and support systems. Being separated from loved ones often means relying on messages and video calls to stay connected. It can mean missing impromptu visits, family gatherings, and the comfort of knowing that the people you care about are only a few minutes away. Because human beings are social beings. Being far from loved ones can feel isolating, and, for many, building a new social circle means starting over from scratch.

People also miss places, and not just the house they grew up in. This includes neighborhoods, the landscapes, the climate, even some local businesses. Living abroad often means adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings, and that adaptation takes time.

Whether they are personal or common to their community, people miss their routines. The daily rituals, celebrations, traditions, and cultural habits that provide comfort and structure. It can be as simple as missing the weekly cup of tea with loved ones, as mentioned by Malian migrant Diaby Massiga in our latest episode of The World We Share.

Being homesick also affects your identity. For some, being in a new place means being surrounded by a completely new language, a new culture, a new sense of humor. At home, they may be understood without needing to explain themselves, but in a new country, reaching that same level of comfort often takes take time.

Finally, people miss connection. They miss being able to show up for the people they care about in the ways they used to. Being far from home can mean missing birthdays, family celebrations, and important milestones. It can also mean not being physically present during difficult moments, when loved ones need support the most.

When we miss home, we are rarely missing just one thing. We are missing a combination of people, places, routines, identity, and connection that together create our sense of belonging.

What Homesickness Looks Like for Migrants

Our study The Currency of Caring (2026) explores the complex emotions associated with remittances and dedicates an entire chapter to homesickness. Based on responses from more than 1,000 migrants representing over 20 nationalities, the study provides valuable insight into what people miss most when they live far from home. Let's take a closer look at some of these key findings.

Across the board, we found that family was the most missed aspect, followed by home environment and food.

However, regional backgrounds also played a fundamental role. For instance, family ranked the highest among African respondents, whereas Latin American respondents were more likely than other groups to say they missed specific places.

Where the person chose to move also skewed the migrants’ sense of homesickness. While the importance of family remains universal, respondents who now live in the United Kingdom particularly miss food from their country of origin while residents in the United States felt stronger nostalgia for the ways in which people related to one another back home.

Age also shapes how we perceive homesickness. People aged 35-54 tend to miss family and the home more intensely than older respondents. Younger people were also more likely to miss their friends, language, lifestyle, and specific places. But that’s not to say that older respondents don’t miss home, their attention just shifts to things like the weather and the ways of relating to one another.

For a deeper look at the findings, including differences between first- and second-generation migrants, you can access the full study for free.

While the details vary across ages, regions of origin, and countries of residence, one message remains consistent: for many migrants, home is first and foremost about people, relationships, and the sense of belonging they create.

How to Cope with Homesickness Abroad

Even when it feels intense and hard to go through, homesickness is above all a deeply human and normal experience. Rather than being a sign of weakness, it reflects the deep connections we build with people, places, routines, and culture. And, fortunately, there are ways to make the experience easier to navigate.

Firstly, we learned that our brains need familiarity to feel comfortable and secure, and this is the main reason why being away from home can feel so unsettling at times. One way to cope is to re-create a sense of familiarity in your country of residence. This means building new routines and traditions. This can be as simple as shopping at the same grocery store every week, stopping by the same café after work, or taking a walk every Saturday morning. The goal is to get familiar with the unfamiliar and help our brain get more comfortable in the new environment.

As we saw, the main aspect that people miss from home is their family. The best way to cope with this would be to actively stay connected with loved ones. This can be through regular phone calls, video chats, or messages. The key here is to be intentional. Don't be afraid to schedule regular calls. This can turn into meaningful rituals. For example, in our episode of The World We Share with Kenan Haskovic, he talked to us about his own ritual living away from his family: “The tradition is that every day, when I come back from work, I start cooking and videocall them,” Kenan explained. “I tell them about my day, they tell me about theirs, and we go through it all together.”

When it comes to missing the cultural aspects of your home, you can also take action. If you miss your country's food, you can try to make it at home or go to a restaurant that makes it. If you miss the music, you can put your headphones on and play your favorite songs from home. If you miss your language, you can speak it by yourself or look for opportunities to speak it with others in your community.

Community can also be valuable if you miss cultural celebrations, traditions, or simply being surrounded by people from your culture. It is possible to find other people going through the same things as you, whether they are also students far from their parents or migrants far from their land, just like you. A good way to do so could be to check out the Facebook groups in your city.

Although it is important to stay connected to home, it is also crucial to actively invest in your new life. This means taking the time and energy necessary to create new local relationships, for example. Human beings need support systems and these take time to build. Like flowers in a garden require water and sun, local relationships also require attention and intentionality. Additionally, to successfully build a sense of belonging in your new environment, you can also cultivate hobbies locally and try new experiences. This can be as simple as joining a local book club if you're passionate about reading!

Finally, remember that homesickness and happiness can coexist. You can miss home while still enjoying and embracing your new life. Having a good time in your new country is not a betrayal of the people you left behind, quite the opposite. In most cases, the people who care about you most want to see you adapting, growing, and building a fulfilling life. And off days are normal, too. Keep in mind that homesickness usually eases with time as new routines, relationships, and memories begin to take shape. However, if feelings of sadness, anxiety, isolation, or distress persist and start affecting your daily life, don't hesitate to seek support from a mental health professional.

From Missing Home to Carrying Home with You

Homesickness is a natural response to change, as our brains rely on familiarity to function peacefully. It is never a sign that someone has failed to adapt. Rather, it is a deeply human experience.

Homesickness is also an indicator of meaningful connections and a strong attachment to your roots. As Winnie-the-Pooh famously says, "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." In this way, the depth of our longing often reflects the depth of our connection.

Over time, we learn that home can exist in multiple places and relationships at once. And the goal is never to stop missing home, but to build a life where old roots and new beginnings can coexist.

Whether you stay close through calls, shared traditions, or sending support when it matters, Ria helps families remain connected across distance. Find a Ria location, download our app or visit our website to get started.