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Pancultural nostalgia in action: Prevalence, triggers, and psychological functions of nostalgia across cultures

Title	Pancultural nostalgia in action: Prevalence, triggers, and psychological functions of nostalgia across cultures
Author	Hepper, E. G., Arıkan, Gizem
Publication Date:	2024-01
Publication Place	- American Psychological Association
Subject	Nostalgia, Culture, Emotion, Memory, Well-being
Type	Periodical
Language	English
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Library:	Özyeğin University
Library Asset ID	0096-3445
Record ID	f0f85f43-1c48-4651-af41-295ea25c5e2c
Library Location	Psychology
Date	2024-01
Notes	Center for Social Conflict and Cohesion Studies ; Center for Intercultural and Indigenous Research
Sample Text	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.
DOI	10.1037/xge0001521

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Özyeğin University

Pancultural nostalgia in action: Prevalence, triggers, and psychological functions of nostalgia across cultures

Author Hepper, E. G., Arıkan, Gizem

Publication Date 2024-01

Publication Place - American Psychological Association

Subject Nostalgia, Culture, Emotion, Memory, Well-being

Type Periodical

Language English

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Library Özyeğin University

Library Asset ID 0096-3445

Record ID f0f85f43-1c48-4651-af41-295ea25c5e2c

Library Location Psychology

Date 2024-01

Notes Center for Social Conflict and Cohesion Studies ; Center for Intercultural and Indigenous Research

Sample Text 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.

DOI 10.1037/xge0001521