Nostalgic People Maintain Friendships Better, Study Finds

A new study reveals that nostalgic individuals are more successful in maintaining friendships over time compared to those who experience less nostalgia.

Researchers found that people with low levels of nostalgia had 18% fewer close relationships after seven years.

While nostalgia is often dismissed as sentimental or overly idealistic, the study, published in the Journal of Cognition and Emotion, highlights its positive impact on relationships and overall well-being.

According to the findings, nostalgic people tend to stay closer to their friends and invest more effort into sustaining these connections.

“People who frequently experience nostalgia and cherish their memories are more conscious of their significant relationships and the importance of nurturing them,” lead researcher Kuan-Ju Huang stated in a news release, as quoted by UPI.

Huang added, “These friendships are more likely to endure despite life changes, shifting interests, and growing responsibilities.”

Social Connections and Well-Being

The study emphasizes the critical role of social networks in psychological and cognitive health, especially as people age.

The research involved over 1,500 participants from the U.S. and Europe across three experiments.

The first experiment surveyed 450 undergraduate students at the University of Buffalo, assessing their nostalgia levels and friendship maintenance habits.

Participants who reported higher nostalgia also placed greater importance on preserving friendships and had closer relationships.

The second study examined over 400 U.S. adults, averaging 40 years old. It found that those who invested more effort into their friendships maintained the most close connections.

The third experiment utilized data from a long-term Dutch social science survey, tracking participants over seven years.

The findings revealed that nostalgia tends to increase with age and plays a role in sustaining social ties.

Conversely, individuals with lower nostalgia levels experienced an 18% decline in close relationships.

Age and Nostalgia

Huang noted that nostalgia manifests differently across age groups. Young adults report nostalgia slightly more frequently than middle-aged individuals, while older adults experience significantly higher levels.

“Life transitions in early adulthood, such as leaving home or entering college and the workforce, may trigger a need for nostalgia as a source of comfort,” Huang explained. “Young adults may reminisce about their high school years or family moments to cope with these changes.”

For older adults, nostalgia is often linked to loss and reflections on the past. “As people age, nostalgia becomes associated with memories of loved ones and a growing awareness of a limited future,” Huang added.

This research underscores the importance of nostalgia in fostering lasting friendships and maintaining emotional well-being throughout life.