Relationship-Centered Nostalgia Aids Commitment And Maintenance Within Conflictual Romantic Relationships

Abstract

Nostalgia – a sentimental longing for the past – increases well-being, especially in response to psychological imbalance, such as meaninglessness or loneliness. Recent work has examined how nostalgia specifically for romantic partners (e.g., places visited together, intimate experiences) has positive implications for these relationships. The two current studies explored whether relationship nostalgia buffers the effect of partner conflict on relationship commitment and maintenance. In Study 1, a relationship nostalgia writing prompt offset conflict to heighten commitment and reduce interest in alternatives (but with no significant effects on satisfaction or investment). In Study 2, first-stage moderated mediation models tested whether a nostalgia manipulation increased pro-relationship intentions (e.g., forgiveness, interdependence) as a function of commitment when conflict was high. Results were trending in the hypothesized direction, but there was insufficient evidence for moderated mediation. Nonetheless, the present results are useful in conceptualizing how nostalgia for a relationship’s past may benefit partner commitment.