Individuals with a strong circle of close friends not only enjoy the present but also often reflect on the past. Those who actively maintain their friendships tend to feel a sense of nostalgia and typically have more close connections compared to those who are less emotionally inclined. These insights stem from a recent study involving nearly 1,500 participants from the U.S. and Europe, published in the journal Cognition and Emotion.
Prior research has demonstrated that having reliable friends contributes to greater life satisfaction and reduces the likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms. Moreover, such friendships can decrease the risk of premature death. Friendships that resemble familial bonds offer essential support during difficult times.
The Connection between Strong Friendships and Nostalgia
First Experiment
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In this groundbreaking study, researchers from the University at Buffalo in the U.S. and Kyoto University in Japan conducted three surveys exploring the relationship between nostalgia and the size of one’s social network. For the first experiment, undergraduate students in the U.S. were surveyed about their propensity to revisit past memories and their friendships.
The students, averaging 19 years of age, reported having an average of seven individuals they felt exceptionally close to—so close that they found it difficult to envision life without them. Additionally, they had about 21 other significant acquaintances. The researchers found that participants who experienced greater nostalgia also valued their friendships more and boasted a greater number of both close and varied relationships.
Second Experiment
The second experiment aimed to determine if similar patterns were present among non-students in the U.S. Findings revealed that participants, averaging 40 years old, had smaller social circles than the students—reporting an average of five very close friends and approximately 14 other significant individuals. The outcomes closely mirrored those from the first experiment.
Third Experiment
The third experiment leveraged data from a long-term Dutch study known as the Longitudinal Internet Studies for Social Sciences (LISS) to assess how nostalgia influenced social networks over seven years. Results indicated that participants tended to become more nostalgic as they aged.
Those who expressed high or moderate levels of nostalgia maintained consistent strong social ties throughout this period—individuals they could confide in about significant matters. Conversely, those with low nostalgia levels experienced a reduction of 18% in close relationships.
In summary, the study highlights that the ability to reminisce about joyful moments spent with others enhances our understanding of the importance of these connections, which in turn inspires us to nurture them.
“Individuals who regularly feel nostalgic and cherish these memories tend to have a deeper awareness of their meaningful relationships and the necessity to cultivate them,” explains Kuan-Ju Huang, a doctoral student at Kyoto University in Japan. “This suggests that such friendships are more likely to last, even as we grow older and our lives, interests, and responsibilities evolve.”
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