The effect of a multi-week nostalgia intervention on well-being: Mechanisms and moderation.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual controlled intervention trial.
PubMed 34591502 · doi:10.1037/emo0000817
What was done
Participants completed a 6-week intervention involving weekly nostalgic reflection compared against an ordinary reflection control group. Well-being outcomes—including positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, subjective vitality, and eudaimonic well-being—were assessed across time and at a 1-month follow-up. Mediators (social connectedness, meaning in life, and self-continuity) and the moderating role of baseline dispositional nostalgia were also evaluated.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, exact sample sizes, or test statistics. Directionally, participants engaging in nostalgic reflection had significantly higher well-being than control reflection participants after 3 weeks. By 6 weeks and at the 1-month follow-up, the beneficial effect persisted only among individuals high in dispositional nostalgia; conversely, nostalgic reflection was associated with lower well-being among individuals low in dispositional nostalgia. Across time points, the positive impact was mediated by increases in social connectedness, meaning in life, and self-continuity.
Why it matters
This study indicates that while nostalgia exercises may provide short-term well-being boosts, long-term multi-week interventions require person-intervention fit, potentially causing adverse effects in individuals with low baseline dispositional nostalgia.
Limits
The abstract does not disclose the sample size, recruitment source, participant demographics, attrition rates, or numerical effect sizes. Potential risks include long-term adverse emotional outcomes for individuals low in dispositional nostalgia.
Cited by
- supports Psychological research demonstrates that nostalgia serves functional processes, including fostering social connection and reinforcing a sense of self-continuity.