Attachment Orientation and the Landscape of Nostalgia: Narrative Content and Well-Being Outcomes

We examined whether the attachment dimensions of avoidance and anxiety predict the content of nostalgic recollections and accompanying well-being benefits. For this purpose, we developed a coding scheme to evaluate written narratives of nostalgic memories across three themes: self, others, affect. In Study 1 ( N = 431), all participants narrated a nostalgic event and completed an attachment orientation measure. Participants lower (vs. higher) on avoidance included more details about others, connection to others, self-expansion, and positive affect. Those lower (vs. higher) on anxiety included less positive and negative affect. In Study 2 ( N = 392), participants were randomly assigned to narrate either a nostalgic or ordinary memory and reported state well-being. Both avoidance and anxiety were associated with other-related narrative content, which in turn related to well-being benefits. Participants lower (vs. higher) on avoidance expressed greater positivity about others and connection in their nostalgic (but not control) narratives. Participants lower (vs. higher) on anxiety expressed less negativity about others in their nostalgic (but not control) narratives. Both dimensions showed indirect effects via these narrative features on well-being in the nostalgia condition. Overall, avoidance was consistently related to others’ portrayal in nostalgic narratives, whereas anxiety’s influence on nostalgia was less consistent. Attachment insecurity shapes the content of nostalgic narratives and consequent well-being outcomes.