Influence of Positive/Negative Emotions Towards Autobiographical Memories on Impressions of the Conversation and Conversation Partner During Nostalgic Memory Sharing

Abstract

We investigated the effects of positive/negative emotions towards autobiographical memories on impressions of the conversation and conversation partner during memory sharing in a reminiscence therapy setting. Fifty-six older (M_age = 69.3) and 60 younger (M_age = 20.7) participants' net emotional tendency (positive/negative) towards autobiographical memories and depressive symptoms were evaluated using validated rating scales. Positive/positive and positive/negative age-matched random pairs shared a nostalgic memory through free conversation. Participants with a negative emotional tendency towards autobiographical memories in positive/negative pairs tended to feel less “easy” about the conversation. Participants with a positive emotional tendency towards autobiographical memories in positive/negative pairs had a more negative impression of their partners. Our data provide insight into the relationship between net emotional tendency towards autobiographical memories and depression and suggest that an individual's net emotional tendency towards autobiographical memories potentially affects the outcome of group reminiscence therapy.