Abstract
Nostalgia, a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, confers self-oriented, existential, and social benefits. We examined whether nostalgic engagement is less beneficial for individuals who are high in neuroticism (i.e. emotionally unstable and prone to negative affect). Specifically, we tested whether the benefits of experimentally induced nostalgia are moderated by trait-level neuroticism. To address this issue, we conducted a high-powered individual participant data meta-analysis ( N = 3556, k = 19). We found that the benefits of nostalgia were not significantly moderated by neuroticism, as they emerged for both high and low neurotics. This finding upheld when the self-oriented, existential, and social benefits of nostalgia were analysed jointly and when they were analysed separately. Taken together, individuals high and low in neuroticism are equally likely to benefit psychologically from engagement in nostalgic reverie.
Highlights
In the 17th century, Swiss physician Johannes Hofer coined the term nostalgia, a compound of the Greek words ‘nostos’ and ‘algos’
The nostalgia intervention increased well-being at both time points for participants who were high in nostalgia proneness but decreased it for those who were low in nostalgia proneness
We aimed to test the generalisability of nostalgia’s psychological benefits by examining whether they are qualified by trait-level neuroticism
Summary
In the 17th century, Swiss physician Johannes Hofer coined the term nostalgia, a compound of the Greek words ‘nostos’ (meaning homecoming) and ‘algos’ (meaning pain). In the ERT, participants are randomly assigned to recall either a nostalgic or ordinary event from their past and to think about how it makes them feel. Nostalgia serves an existential function, as it sustains perceptions of meaning in life (Routledge et al, 2011; Routledge, Wildschut, Sedikides, Juhl, & Arndt, 2012; Sedikides & Wildschut, 2018; Van Tilburg, Igou, & Sedikides, 2013) and instils self-continuity (i.e. a sense of connection between one’s past and present selves; Sedikides et al, 2015, 2016; Sedikides, Wildschut, & Stephan, 2018; Van Tilburg, Sedikides, Wildschut, & Vingerhoets, 2019). Recalling a nostalgic (compared with ordinary) life event was more beneficial (i.e. increased self-esteem, social connectedness, and optimism) for participants who were high (compared with low) in nostalgia proneness. Kurtz, Wildschut, and Sedikides (2020) examined the role of nostalgia proneness (assessed at baseline) in a 6-week ERT-based intervention study. Individuals who experienced nostalgia regularly in their everyday lives (i.e. those who were relatively more nostalgia prone) benefitted the most from nostalgia inductions
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