Food-evoked nostalgia

ABSTRACT

In three studies, we examined food as an elicitor of nostalgia. Study 1 participants visualised eating either a nostalgic or regularly consumed food. Study 2 participants visualised consuming 12 foods. Study 3 participants consumed 12 flavour samples. Following their food experiences, all participants responded to questions regarding the profile of food-evoked nostalgia (i.e. autobiographical relevance, arousal, familiarity, positive and negative emotions) and several psychological functions (i.e. positive affect, self-esteem, social connectedness, meaning in life). Study 2 and 3 participants also reported their state nostalgia. Results revealed that food is a powerful elicitor of nostalgia. Food-evoked nostalgia has a similar contextual profile to previously examined elicitors, but is a predominantly positive emotional experience. Food-evoked nostalgia served multiple psychological functions and predicted greater state nostalgia.

KEYWORDS:

• Nostalgia
• food
• taste
• autobiographical memory
• nostalgia functions

Acknowledgement

We thank Mary Welch, Jazmine Hasty, Maisy Deans, Aliza Woolf, and Teja Vyavahare for their assistance in data collection. We thank Ashley O’Brien [Russell] and Katie Hancock for their assistance in proofing materials. Declarations of interest: none. Authors listed in order of contribution. Materials and data are available upon request. The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 In the Pilot Study (N nostalgia ratings = 3,141), the mean level of food-evoked nostalgia across all 33 foods was 3.96 (SD = 1.89). In the main study (N nostalgia ratings = 1,812), the mean level of food-evoked nostalgia across the 12 selected foods was 4.62 (SD = 2.03). Although foods for the main study were not selected based on their average nostalgia evoked, the smaller selection of 12 foods used in the main study (N = 176) evoked more nostalgia, on average, than the more comprehensive set of 33 foods used in the Pilot Study (N = 107), t(4,951) = 11.52, p < .001.

2 In the Pilot Study (N nostalgia ratings = 2,062), the mean level of food-evoked nostalgia across all 25 jelly beans was 3.84 (SD = 2.10). In the main study (N nostalgia ratings = 1,272), the mean level of food-evoked nostalgia across the 12 selected jelly beans was 4.44 (SD = 2.23). Although foods for the main study were not selected based on their average nostalgia evoked, the smaller selection of 12 jelly beans used in the main study (N = 80) evoked more nostalgia, on average, than the more comprehensive set of 25 jelly beans used in the Pilot Study (N = 83), t(3,332) = 7.83, p < .001.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.