Combating Loneliness With Nostalgia: Nostalgic Feelings Attenuate Negative Thoughts and Motivations Associated With Loneliness

• Published in: Frontiers in psychology Vol. 11; p. 1219
• Main Authors: Abeyta, Andrew A., Routledge, Clay, Kaslon, Samuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A 23.06.2020
• Subjects: loneliness; nostalgia; Psychology; social approach; social goals; social-confidence
• ISSN: 1664-1078; 1664-1078
• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01219

Loneliness is difficult to overcome, in part because it is associated with negative social cognitions and social motivations. We argue that nostalgia, a positive emotional experience that involves reflecting on cherished memories, is a psychological resource that regulates these maladaptive intrapsychic tendencies associated with loneliness. We tested this hypothesis across 4 studies. Study 1 examined whether nostalgia mitigates the inverse relation between loneliness and social confidence. Studies 2, 3, and 4 examined nostalgia’s potential to mitigate the inverse relation between loneliness and approach-oriented social goals and intentions. The results provided support that nostalgia mitigates reduced social confidence and low approach-oriented social goals/intentions associated with loneliness. The associations between loneliness and reduced social confidence, and loneliness and less approach-oriented social goals/intentions, respectively, were found to be weaker as a function of nostalgia. This weakening appeared to be due to nostalgia’s positive effect on social confidence and approach-oriented social goals/intentions, respectively, particularly at high levels of loneliness.