Nostalgia: A Resource for Human Flourishing
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Nostalgia is a warm, positive emotion rooted in meaningful memories from one’s past. My colleagues and I have shown that nostalgic reflection strengthens social connectedness, supports a sense of well‑being, and fosters optimistic views of the future. Our lab continues to investigate how nostalgia enriches psychological functioning and how its motivational effects shape people’s engagement, beliefs, and aspirations, including among students from underrepresented backgrounds. |
Selected Publications:
Abeyta, A.A., Corley, D. & Hasna, N. (2024). Nostalgia promotes positive beliefs about college belonging and success among first-generation college students. International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 9, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-024-00163-4
Abeyta A. A., & Pillarisetty, S. (2023). Nostalgia supports a meaningful life. Current Opinion in Psychology, 49, Article 101520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101520
Abeyta, A. A., & Juhl, J. (2023). Nostalgia restores meaning in life for lonely people. Emotion, 23(6), 1791–1795. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001190
Abeyta, A. A., Routledge, C., & Kaslon, S. (2020). Combating loneliness with nostalgia: Nostalgic feelings attenuate negative thoughts and motivations associated with loneliness. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 1219. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01219
Abeyta, A. A., Nelson, T. A., & Routledge, C. (2019). The pushes and pulls of the past: The effects of attachment-related avoidance on approach-oriented social goals. Personality and Individual Differences, 149, 200-208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.06.008
Abeyta, A. A., Routledge, C., & Juhl, J. (2015). Looking back to move forward: Nostalgia as a psychological resource for promoting relationship aspirations and overcoming relationship challenges. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 109, 1029-1044. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000036
Abeyta, A. A., Routledge, C., Roylance, C., Wildschut, T., & Sedikides, C. (2015). The relationship between attachment-related avoidance and the social and agentic content of nostalgia. Journal of Personal and Social Relationships, 32, 406-413. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407514533770
Meaning in Life is a Resource for Resilient Goal Pursuits
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Grounded in existential perspectives and motivation theory, I propose that meaning in life, understood as a sense of coherence, significance, and purpose, supports resilient goal engagement. Our research shows that low meaning prompts investment in beliefs and pursuits that help restore it, and that successful restoration promotes adaptive thought and action. Strong meaning, in turn, energizes resilient pursuit of aspirations and contributes to human flourishing. |
Selected Publications:
Trieu, E., & Abeyta, A.A. (2023). Finding meaning in education bolsters academic self-efficacy. International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology 8, 383–403. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-023-00095-5
Routledge, C., FioRito, T. A., Bitzan, J. D., & Abeyta, A. A. (2021). Does existential well-being promote positive attitudes about entrepreneurs? Journal of Consumer Satisfaction, Dissatisfaction and Complaining Behavior, 34, 1-5. https://jcsdcb.com/index.php/JCSDCB/article/view/474
Abeyta, A. A., & Routledge, C. (2018). The need for meaning and religiosity: An individual differences approach to assessing existential needs. Personality and Individual Differences, 123, 6-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.10.038
Abeyta, A. A., Routledge, C., Kersten, M., & Cox, C. R. (2017). The existential cost of financial insecurity: Financial insecurity undermines perceptions of meaning in life. The Journal of Social Psychology, 157, 692-702. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2016.1270892
Smith, A. J., Abeyta, A. A., Hughes, M., & Jones, R. T. (2015). Persistent grief in the aftermath of mass violence: The predictive roles of posttraumatic stress symptoms, self-efficacy, and disrupted worldview. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy, 7, 179-186. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000002
Abeyta, A. A., Juhl, J., & Routledge, C. (2014). Exploring the effects of self-esteem and mortality salience on proximally and distally measured death-anxiety: A further test of the dual defense model of terror management. Motivation and Emotion, 38, 523-528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-014-9400-y
Pathways to a Meaningful Life
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My research explores the unexpected ways people satisfy the need for meaning in life. We find that external rewards such as money can enhance meaning when they provide purpose or reduce insecurity. People also draw meaning from unverifiable beliefs, including religious and spiritual worldviews, supernatural ideas, and interest in extraterrestrial phenomena. Finally, we examine how aspects of identity, such as being a first‑generation college student or an atheist, shape the ways people seek and sustain meaning, and manage existential concerns. |
Selected Publications:
Abeyta, A. A., & Du, X. (2025). What makes college meaningful for first-generation students? A quantitative content analysis of first-generation and continuing-generation student writings on why college is purposeful and important. Journal of First-Generation Student Success, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/26906015.2025.2546412
Abeyta, A. A., & Blake, E. (2020). The Existential implications of individual differences in religious defensive and growth orientations: Fundamentalism, quest religiosity, and intrinsic/extrinsic. In C. Routledge & K, Vail (Eds.), The science of religion, spirituality, and existentialism. New York, NY: Elsevier.
Nelson, T. A., Abeyta, A. A., & Routledge, C. (2021). Religion, paranormal beliefs, and meaning in life. Religion, Brain, and Behavior, 11, 139-149. https://doi.org/10.1080/2153599X.2020.1824938
Nelson, T. A., Abeyta, A. A., & Routledge, C. (2021). What makes life meaningful for theists and atheists? Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 13(1), 111–118. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000282
Nelson, T. A., Abeyta, A. A., & Routledge, C. (2020). Does Meaning Motivate Magical Thinking Among Theists and Atheists? Social Psychological and Personality Science, 11(2), 176–184. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550619829063
Abeyta, A. A., Routledge, C., & Sedikides, C. (2017). Material meaning: Narcissists gain greater existential benefits from extrinsic than intrinsic goals. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 8, 219-228. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550616667618
Routledge, C., Abeyta, A. A., & Roylance, C. (2017). We are not alone: meaning motive, religiosity, and belief in extraterrestrial intelligence. Motivation and Emotion, 41, 135-146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-017-9605-y