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The effect of a multi-week nostalgia intervention on well-being: mechanisms and moderation

The effect of a multi-week nostalgia intervention on well-being: mechanisms and moderation
The effect of a multi-week nostalgia intervention on well-being: mechanisms and moderation
Nostalgia is a sentimental longing for one’s past. We examined the effect of a 6-week, weekly nostalgia intervention on well-being (positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, subjective vitality, and eudaimonic well-being) over time. After three weeks, participants who engaged in nostalgic reflection had higher well-being than those who engaged in ordinary reflection. After six weeks, and at a one-month follow-up, the positive effect of nostalgic reflection was reserved for those who were high on dispositional nostalgia (i.e., well-suited to the nostalgia intervention). However, at these time points, nostalgic reflection was associated with lower well-being among those particularly low on dispositional nostalgia. Across time points, nostalgic reflection was beneficial to the degree that it fostered social connectedness, meaning in life, and self-continuity, pointing to mechanisms that drive nostalgia’s positive influence on well-being. In summary, weekly nostalgic reflection has temporary well-being benefits for most (out to three weeks) and, beyond that, is a matter of fit—beneficial or adverse to those especially high or low on dispositional nostalgia, respectively.
happiness intervention, nostalgia, nostalgia intervention, positive psychology intervention, well-being
1528-3542
Layous, Kristin
ad480cc6-aa19-4a1f-9461-262c1348b5b4
Kurtz, Jamie
1e8cde5c-d186-4e08-8386-f0436132872b
Wildschut, Tim
4452a61d-1649-4c4a-bb1d-154ec446ff81
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2
Layous, Kristin
ad480cc6-aa19-4a1f-9461-262c1348b5b4
Kurtz, Jamie
1e8cde5c-d186-4e08-8386-f0436132872b
Wildschut, Tim
4452a61d-1649-4c4a-bb1d-154ec446ff81
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2

Layous, Kristin, Kurtz, Jamie, Wildschut, Tim and Sedikides, Constantine (2021) The effect of a multi-week nostalgia intervention on well-being: mechanisms and moderation. Emotion. (doi:10.1037/emo0000817).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Nostalgia is a sentimental longing for one’s past. We examined the effect of a 6-week, weekly nostalgia intervention on well-being (positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, subjective vitality, and eudaimonic well-being) over time. After three weeks, participants who engaged in nostalgic reflection had higher well-being than those who engaged in ordinary reflection. After six weeks, and at a one-month follow-up, the positive effect of nostalgic reflection was reserved for those who were high on dispositional nostalgia (i.e., well-suited to the nostalgia intervention). However, at these time points, nostalgic reflection was associated with lower well-being among those particularly low on dispositional nostalgia. Across time points, nostalgic reflection was beneficial to the degree that it fostered social connectedness, meaning in life, and self-continuity, pointing to mechanisms that drive nostalgia’s positive influence on well-being. In summary, weekly nostalgic reflection has temporary well-being benefits for most (out to three weeks) and, beyond that, is a matter of fit—beneficial or adverse to those especially high or low on dispositional nostalgia, respectively.

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The Effect of a Multi-Week Nostalgia Intervention on Well-Being - Mechanisms and Moderation. - Accepted Manuscript
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Layous et al., 2021, Emotion
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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 30 April 2021
e-pub ahead of print date: 30 September 2021
Published date: 1 November 2021
Additional Information: Publisher Copyright: © 2021 American Psychological Association
Keywords: happiness intervention, nostalgia, nostalgia intervention, positive psychology intervention, well-being

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 449589
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/449589
ISSN: 1528-3542
PURE UUID: cb1546f4-c8cd-4b4e-ba55-24018c68dcf7
ORCID for Tim Wildschut: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6499-5487
ORCID for Constantine Sedikides: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4036-889X

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Date deposited: 08 Jun 2021 16:32
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:53

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Contributors

Author: Kristin Layous
Author: Jamie Kurtz
Author: Tim Wildschut ORCID iD

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