The restorative power of nostalgia: thwarting loneliness by raising happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic
The restorative power of nostalgia: thwarting loneliness by raising happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic
Lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk for loneliness. We tested whether nostalgia counteracts loneliness via rises in happiness. We conducted surveys in China (N=1,546), the U.S. (N=1,572), and the U.K. (N=603). Although feeling lonely was associated with unhappiness, it was also associated with nostalgia, which in turn conduced to increased happiness. We complemented these findings with three experiments testing MTurk workers (Study 4, N=209; Study 5, N=196; preregistered Study 6, N=190), where we manipulated nostalgia and assessed happiness. Nostalgia increased happiness immediately after the manipulation (Studies 4-6) and, following an induction booster, up to two days later (Studies 4-5). Nostalgia is a psychological resource that can be harnessed to raise happiness and help combat loneliness.
COVID-19, loneliness, nostalgia, happiness
Zhou, Xinyue
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Sedikides, Constantine
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Mo, T
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Li, W
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Hong, Emily
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Wildschut, Tim
4452a61d-1649-4c4a-bb1d-154ec446ff81
Zhou, Xinyue
788bb179-e660-40c9-979c-e21a87b6f56c
Sedikides, Constantine
9d45e66d-75bb-44de-87d7-21fd553812c2
Mo, T
62527dd0-9a94-4795-a93f-51aa7aea3afb
Li, W
e0269b89-4adc-4e73-9234-1f027b7793fa
Hong, Emily
e0ed698b-b0e9-4bfc-803b-ffbbe657d580
Wildschut, Tim
4452a61d-1649-4c4a-bb1d-154ec446ff81
Zhou, Xinyue, Sedikides, Constantine, Mo, T, Li, W, Hong, Emily and Wildschut, Tim
(2021)
The restorative power of nostalgia: thwarting loneliness by raising happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Social Psychological and Personality Science.
(doi:10.17605/OSF.IO/U5RJB).
(In Press)
Abstract
Lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk for loneliness. We tested whether nostalgia counteracts loneliness via rises in happiness. We conducted surveys in China (N=1,546), the U.S. (N=1,572), and the U.K. (N=603). Although feeling lonely was associated with unhappiness, it was also associated with nostalgia, which in turn conduced to increased happiness. We complemented these findings with three experiments testing MTurk workers (Study 4, N=209; Study 5, N=196; preregistered Study 6, N=190), where we manipulated nostalgia and assessed happiness. Nostalgia increased happiness immediately after the manipulation (Studies 4-6) and, following an induction booster, up to two days later (Studies 4-5). Nostalgia is a psychological resource that can be harnessed to raise happiness and help combat loneliness.
Text
Zhou et al., 2021, SPPS
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 24 August 2021
Keywords:
COVID-19, loneliness, nostalgia, happiness
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 451517
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/451517
ISSN: 1948-5506
PURE UUID: 73d5d654-19be-4c34-97c1-f24500c7acbd
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Date deposited: 05 Oct 2021 16:32
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:53
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Contributors
Author:
Xinyue Zhou
Author:
T Mo
Author:
W Li
Author:
Emily Hong
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