Psychology: Why nostalgia is so important for our mental health
Ah yes, the good old days. Even though we sometimes romanticize the past in our memories, nostalgia is an important and healthy feeling. Here's why it's so good for us.
Especially in the summertime, we're often overcome by nostalgia. We remember the summers of our childhood, the trips we took as a family, the days at the beach or the outdoor pool, the carefree days of our growing up.
This feeling of nostalgia can be beautiful—but it can also be stressful. If the people in our memories are no longer alive, for example, the feeling of nostalgia can turn into sadness. Or simply when we realize that we'll never experience those beautiful moments again.
Improved mood, improved relationships, improved self-esteem"Nostalgia is an ambivalent emotion characterized by a sentimental longing for a past that no longer exists," explains psychology professor Dr. Allen R. McConnell on "Psychology Today." "Although this connection to the past usually appears positive, it often also contains sadness that certain things are irretrievably lost—which lends a melancholic touch to the emotional world."
But why do we actually become nostalgic? For one thing, according to McConnell, nostalgia can be a reaction to negative life events or loneliness. "Moreover, studies have shown that people who were encouraged to be nostalgic had a better mood and increased self-esteem," the psychologist says. This illustrates how nostalgia can boost self-esteem.
According to McConnell, part of the power of nostalgia is not only that it encourages reflection on positive past experiences, but also that the feeling of nostalgia reminds us of important moments and meaningful relationships. "This connection between nostalgia and social connectedness is so strong that even deliberately triggering nostalgic feelings increases the willingness to help others—presumably to create deeper social bonds."
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But it's not just our relationships that benefit from nostalgic indulgence; nostalgia can also positively influence our attitudes toward certain situations or content. This is demonstrated by a 2024 study in which researchers found that people who reflected on a nostalgic song or TV program rated this media content as particularly positive and important. The stronger the feeling of nostalgia, the more they viewed this content as part of their own identity.
"It appears, then, that people use nostalgic feelings to construct their self-image by frequently recalling certain episodes, thus solidifying their significance for their life path," summarizes Allen McConnell. Thus, nostalgia can not only lift our mood and improve our relationships, but also help us form a clearer vision of ourselves.
mbl Brigitte
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