Health

Nostalgia, or the sentimental longing for the past, is a fascinating emotion, often involving, as the psychologists Xinyue Zhou, Constantine Sedikides, Tim Wildschut, and Ding-Guo Gao wrote in a 2008 study, "the simultaneous expression of happiness and sadness." By reminding subjects of nostalgic events in their past, they found, people felt more socially supported. Nostalgia, they wrote, is a "psychological resource that protects and fosters mental health." It counteracts loneliness by making us feel more connected. It's intensely associated with family and friends, special events, and beautiful scenery. Apparently, according to a 2006 study led by Tim Wildschut, we experience feelings of nostalgia roughly three times a week. Nostalgia softens us. It's humbling and healthy. Vast oceans and sunsets remind us of how small we all are in space, it seems, as nostalgia reminds us how small we all are in time.

Recent studies examining nostalgia have shown that it occurs in all cultures and among all age groups. Despite this wide range, there are some features that are common to the majority of nostalgic experiences. For example, nostalgic thoughts will usually feature a person we are close to, a significant event or a place important to us. In addition, we play a starring role in our nostalgic scenes, although we are generally surrounded by family and friends.

Research suggests that nostalgia can promote psychological health. Inducing nostalgia in a group of study volunteers resulted in overall positive feelings in this group, including higher self-esteem and an increase in the feeling of being loved and protected by others. Recent work has also shown that nostalgia counteracts effects of loneliness, by increasing perceptions of social support. In addition, that same study found that loneliness can trigger nostalgia.