14 DAY TRIAL // Recent scientific studies have shown that nostalgia also has positive effects on the human mind and is not only characterized by insomnia, anxiety and depression, among other things. Constantine Sedikides, a psychologist at the University of Southampton, says that nostalgia can also help people remember positive aspects of their lives in the past, which could help them move over problems they are having in the present by finding similarities between the two situations.
A very interesting find that Sedikides and his colleagues made was the fact that nostalgic convening in support groups under scientific observation displayed a surprisingly high level of self-esteem, and that the atmosphere surrounding the talks was very calm and serene, as everyone kept telling the others about beautiful moments in the past and made everyone a part of it.
Inside the groups, all members reported that they felt loved, protected and safe among the others, even if they had never met before the study. These feelings of inclusion also made nostalgic people feel less alone, because their perception on society was different from that of individuals “living in the present.” The researchers also noted that loneliness triggered nostalgia, in that the lack of a conversation partner forced nostalgics to dwell in the past.
"Nostalgia is now emerging as a fundamental human strength. [It] is uniquely positioned to offer integrative insights across such areas of psychology as memory, emotion, the self and relationships. Nostalgia has a long past and an exciting future," reads the new study, published in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science.
A crucial aspect of nostalgia is that it can provide people with a sense of continuity in their lives, when comparing memories from the past with present actions. If the two are compatible, then self-esteem will literally skyrocket. This is very beneficial to the elderly, who feel left out the most during their last years, and who could find refuge in nostalgia, to keep them sane.