Studi Fenomenologis Tentang Homesickness dan Strategi Penyesuaian Diri pada Santri Boarding School

Abstract

The transition from the home environment to boarding school life represents a significant life change for adolescents, involving shifts in roles and increased independence. This study aims to explore the subjective experiences of students at PKBM Sabilul Mukminin, identify contributing factors, and examine the adaptive strategies they employ. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observations of junior and senior high school students during the early transition period. The findings indicate that homesickness is multidimensional, encompassing emotional distress, impaired concentration, and physical symptoms. Over time, this experience may evolve into a process of developing maturity and resilience. Coping strategies include peer support, expressive writing, and religious approaches. However, dormitory supervisors tend to focus more on discipline than on providing emotional support. The success of adaptation is influenced by both individual resilience and institutional support. Therefore, this study recommends the provision of training for dormitory supervisors to enable early detection of psychological symptoms, as well as the establishment of a structured peer support system to create a more humanistic boarding environment that is sensitive to students’ psychological well-being.