The Restorative Power of Nostalgia: Thwarting Loneliness by Raising Happiness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk for loneliness. We tested whether nostalgia counteracts loneliness via rises in happiness. We conducted surveys in China ( N = 1,546), the United States ( N = 1,572), and the United Kingdom ( N = 603). Although feeling lonely was associated with unhappiness, it was also associated with nostalgia, which in turn conduced to increased happiness. We complemented these findings with three experiments testing MTurk workers (Study 4, N = 209; Study 5, N = 196; Study 6, N = 190), where we manipulated nostalgia and assessed happiness. Nostalgia increased happiness immediately after the manipulation (Studies 4–6) and, following an induction booster, up to 2 days later (Studies 4–5). Nostalgia is a psychological resource that can be harnessed to raise happiness and help combat loneliness.