Dr Andrew Abeyta and Dr Clay Routledge are psychologists who have researched nostalgia’s role in healthy ageing. They have found that nostalgia can be a powerful tool for promoting psychological well-being in older adults.
In their research, Abeyta and Routledge have shown that nostalgia can help older adults maintain a sense of continuity and connectedness to their past selves, which can help them cope with the challenges of ageing. Nostalgia can also help older adults feel more positive about their lives, even in physical and cognitive decline.
In one study, Abeyta and Routledge found that older adults who reported feeling more nostalgic also reported higher levels of perceived meaning and purpose. These findings suggest that nostalgia can help older adults maintain a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives, even as they face challenges associated with ageing.
Another study by Abeyta and Routledge found that nostalgia can help older adults cope with loneliness and social isolation. The researchers found that older adults who engaged in nostalgic reminiscing reported lower levels of loneliness than those who did not engage in nostalgic reminiscing.
While nostalgia can positively affect psychological well-being, it is essential to recognize that it is not always a uniformly positive experience. Nostalgia can sometimes be associated with negative emotions such as sadness or longing. It can also be a source of maladaptive coping if used to avoid or deny the present.
For example, research has shown that excessive or prolonged nostalgia can be associated with symptoms of depression, particularly in individuals who have experienced significant losses or traumatic events. Additionally, research has suggested that restorative nostalgia, which involves a desire to return to a particular time or place in the past, can be associated with more conservative or rigid attitudes, which may be less adaptive in the face of change and uncertainty.
That being said, reflective nostalgia, which involves a more nuanced and accepting view of the past, can be a valuable tool for promoting psychological well-being and coping with the present challenges. Reflective nostalgia can help individuals maintain a sense of continuity and connectedness with their past selves, which can provide a source of comfort and emotional support in difficult times. Ultimately, the impact of nostalgia on psychological well-being is likely to depend on various individual and contextual factors and may differ from person to person.
While more research is needed to fully understand nostalgia’s potential benefits and limitations for healthy ageing, these possible mechanisms suggest that nostalgia could be a valuable tool for promoting psychological well-being and resilience in older adults. However, it is important to remember that the impact of nostalgia is likely to depend on various individual and contextual factors, and it is not a panacea for all of the challenges of ageing.
Here are some of the studies conducted by Drs. Andrew Abeyta and Clay Routledge on the topic of nostalgia and healthy ageing:
Abeyta, A. A., Routledge, C., Juhl, J., & Robinson, M. A. (2015). The nostalgic brain: Benefits of nostalgia for health and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(4), 573-590.
Abeyta, A. A., Routledge, C., & Sedikides, C. (2018). Materializing nostalgia: A review of the literature and advances in research agenda. Journal of Nostalgia, 2(1-2), 93-109.
Abeyta, A. A., Routledge, C., Juhl, J., & Robinson, M. A. (2015). The self-esteem motive in nostalgia. Emotion, 15(6), 776-788.
Abeyta, A. A., Routledge, C., & Roylance, C. (2018). The effects of nostalgic advertising on consumer attitudes and behaviour. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 35(1), 25-35.
Routledge, C., Wildschut, T., Sedikides, C., Juhl, J., & Arndt, J. (2012). The power of the past: Nostalgia as a meaning-making resource. Memory, 20(5), 452-460.