Pancultural nostalgia in action: Prevalence, triggers, and psychological functions of nostalgia across cultures.
Pancultural nostalgia in action: Prevalence, triggers, and psychological functions of nostalgia across cultures.
StatusPost-Print
Alternative title
Authors
Hepper, Erica G.
Sedikides, Constantine
Wildschut, Tim
Cheung, Wing Yee
Abakoumkin, Georgios
Arikan, Gizem
Aveyard, Mark
Baldursson, Einar B.
Białobrzeska, Olga
Bouamama, Sana
Monograph
Monograph (alternative title)
Date
2024-01-22
Publisher
Journal title
Journal of Experimental Psychology: General
Issue
3
Volume
153
Pages
Pages
754-778
ISSN
0096-3445
ISSN of series
Access date
2024-02-26
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
Nostalgia is a social, self-relevant, and bittersweet (although mostly positive) emotion that arises when reflecting on fond past memories and serves key psychological functions. The majority of evidence concerning the prevalence, triggers, and functions of nostalgia has been amassed in samples from a handful of largely Western cultures. If nostalgia is a fundamental psychological resource, it should perform similar functions across cultures, although its operational dynamics may be shaped by culture. This study (N = 2,606) examined dispositional nostalgia, self-reported triggers of nostalgia, and functions of experimentally induced nostalgia in young adults across 28 countries and a special administrative region of China (i.e., Hong Kong). Results indicated that nostalgia is frequently experienced across cultures, albeit better valued in more-developed countries (i.e., higher national wealth and life-expectancy). Nostalgia is triggered by psychological threats (especially in warmer countries), sensory stimuli (especially in more-developed countries), and social gatherings (especially in less-developed countries). The positive or negative affect prompted by experimentally induced nostalgia varied by country, but was mild overall. More importantly, recalling a nostalgic (vs. ordinary) memory increased social connectedness, self-continuity, and meaning in life across cultures. In less-developed countries, recalling an ordinary memory also conferred some of these functions, reducing the effect size of nostalgia. Finally, recalling a nostalgic (vs. ordinary) memory augmented state satisfaction with life in countries with lower quality of living (i.e., lower life-expectancy and life-satisfaction). Overall, findings confirm the relevance of nostalgia across a wide range of cultures and indicate cultural nuances in its functioning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Abstract other
Keywords PL
Keywords EN
nostalgia
culture
emotion
memory
wellbeing
culture
emotion
memory
wellbeing
Keywords other
Exhibition title
Place of exhibition (institution)
Exhibition curator
Type
License type
Funder
Time range from
Time range to
Contact person name
Related publication
Related publication
Grant/project name
Collections
Views
29Acquisition Date31.08.2025
Downloads
12Acquisition Date31.08.2025
Altmetrics©
Dimensions
Google Scholar
