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The Content of Nostalgic Memories Among People Living with Dementia

Sanda Ismail, Emily Dodd, Gary Christopher Orcid Logo, Tim Wildschut, Constantine Sedikides, Richard Cheston

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, Volume: 94, Issue: 4, Pages: 436 - 458

Swansea University Author: Gary Christopher Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1177/00914150211024185

Abstract

Although dementia may affect the reliability of autobiographical memories, the psychological properties of nostalgic memories may be preserved. We compared the content of nostalgic (n = 36) and ordinary (n = 31) narratives of 67 participants living with dementia. Narratives were rated according to t...

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Published in: The International Journal of Aging and Human Development
ISSN: 0091-4150 1541-3535
Published: SAGE Publications 2022
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62610
Abstract: Although dementia may affect the reliability of autobiographical memories, the psychological properties of nostalgic memories may be preserved. We compared the content of nostalgic (n = 36) and ordinary (n = 31) narratives of 67 participants living with dementia. Narratives were rated according to their self-oriented, social, and existential properties, as well as their affective content. Social properties and affective content were assessed using a linguistic word count procedure. Compared to the ordinary narratives described in the control condition, nostalgic narratives described a typical events, expressed more positive affect, and had more expressions of self-esteem and self-continuity. They were also rated higher on companionship, connectedness and the closeness of relationships, and reflected life as being meaningful. Despite their cognitive impairment, people living with dementia experience nostalgia in similar ways to cognitively healthy adults, with their nostalgic narratives containing self-oriented, social, and existential properties.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; autobiographical memory; meaning in life; self-continuity; social connectedness; self-esteem
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Issue: 4
Start Page: 436
End Page: 458

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