Connecting with old friends can be easier than you think. A new international study shows that nostalgia, which is often regarded as housing in the past, can help strengthen social networks. Researchers have found that the memory not only causes warm feelings, but also urge people to maintain their most valuable relationship over time. (Also Read: Your baby is lonely? The study shows how creativity helps them make friends )
Nostalgia: more than just sentimentality
Nostalgia is not just a memory trip. The study published in cognition and emotions suggests that those who often feel and appreciate nostalgic feelings have made more effort in maintaining their friendships, which often leads to a greater social circle.
“People who feel nostalgic more often and revere these memories, are more aware of their important relationships and the need for their upbringing,” explains Kuan Juan Juan’s study, Kyoto’s graduate student. “This means that these friendships can be more likely, even if we grow old and our lives, interests and responsibilities change.”
Once it is regarded as a mental illness in the 17th century, nostalgia is now recognized as a powerful tool to maintain relationships. It reminds us of significant points and motivates us to maintain friendships when life changes.
The study shows how nostalgia affects social connections
The study analyzed 1467 participants of three groups: college students (average age 19), adult American (40) and adult Dutch have been monitored for seven years. The younger participants had about seven very close friends and 21 important connections, and the elderly had five and 14 respectively. Over time, those who with a high level of nostalgia have retained most of their close friendships, and those who rarely felt nostalgies lost about 18% of their closest ties.
Nostalgia strengthens our desire to remain in touch with those most important, regardless of personality traits such as extraversion or pleasantness. Even after taking into account these factors, the researchers found that nostalgia still predicts closer friends. Strong relationships are key for well -being, good friends reduce the risk of depression, provide support in difficult times and even contribute to a longer life.
The role of nostalgia at different stages of life
Juan, who started his doctorate in Japan during the Covid-19 pandemic, noticed that many, including he, found comfort in nostalgic music and old videos. Nostalgia affects all ages, but for various reasons. Young adults often remind you of high school or family moments during life transitions, while elderly adults associate nostalgia with losses and a limited future.
Instead of seeing nostalgia as a simple sentimentality, we must recognize this in a natural way to maintain relationships. These moments serve as a reminder to connect again with those most important.
