Nostalgia promotes help seeking by fostering social connectedness

Emotion. 2021 Apr;21(3):631-643. doi: 10.1037/emo0000720. Epub 2020 Apr 16.

Abstract

Individuals are often reluctant to seek help from others. Nostalgia is a highly social emotion that bolsters perceptions of connectedness with others. In 6 studies, we investigated whether nostalgia reduces individuals' general reluctance to reach out to others for help by virtue of its capacity to strengthen social connectedness (i.e., a sense of acceptance and support). In a preliminary study, we measured nostalgia, 6 comparator emotions, and help seeking. Nostalgia predicted help seeking, independently of the comparator emotions. In Experiments 1 through 4, we induced nostalgia (vs. control) and subsequently measured self-reported help seeking (Experiments 1 through 2), help-seeking behavior (Experiments 3 through 4), and social connectedness (Experiments 2 and 4). Nostalgia increased self-reported help seeking (Experiments 1 and 2) and help-seeking behavior (Experiments 3 and 4), and these effects were mediated by social connectedness (Experiments 2 and 4). In Experiment 5, we manipulated the social content of nostalgic reflections and measured help-seeking behavior. Nostalgia pertaining to social (but not to nonsocial) past events increased help seeking. In all, nostalgia is a resource that facilitates help seeking by fostering social connectedness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Emotions / physiology*
  • Female
  • Help-Seeking Behavior*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Recall / physiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Social Support*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult