Pancultural nostalgia in action: Prevalence, triggers, and psychological functions of nostalgia across cultures.

Nostalgia is a social, self-relevant, and bittersweet (although mostly positive) emotion that arises when reflecting on fond past memories and serves key psychological functions. The majority of evidence concerning the prevalence, triggers, and functions of nostalgia has been amassed in samples from a handful of largely Western cultures. If nostalgia is a fundamental psychological resource, it should perform similar functions across cultures, although its operational dynamics may be shaped by culture. This study (N = 2,606) examined dispositional nostalgia, self-reported triggers of nostalgia, and functions of experimentally induced nostalgia in young adults across 28 countries and a special administrative region of China (i.e., Hong Kong). Results indicated that nostalgia is frequently experienced across cultures, albeit better valued in more-developed countries (i.e., higher national wealth and life-expectancy). Nostalgia is triggered by psychological threats (especially in warmer countries), sensory stimuli (especially in more-developed countries), and social gatherings (especially in less-developed countries). The positive or negative affect prompted by experimentally induced nostalgia varied by country, but was mild overall. More importantly, recalling a nostalgic (vs. ordinary) memory increased social connectedness, self-continuity, and meaning in life across cultures. In less-developed countries, recalling an ordinary memory also conferred some of these functions, reducing the effect size of nostalgia. Finally, recalling a nostalgic (vs. ordinary) memory augmented state satisfaction with life in countries with lower quality of living (i.e., lower life-expectancy and life-satisfaction). Overall, findings confirm the relevance of nostalgia across a wide range of cultures and indicate cultural nuances in its functioning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Visceral syndrome in endometriosis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Pain related to bowel and bladder function is seen more often in endometriosis. This study explored whether employed endometriosis patients experience multiple visceral symptoms more often than reference women without the disease. STUDY DESIGN: In a cohort study, 610 patients with diagnosed endometriosis and 751 reference women completed an electronic survey based on the EHP-30 questionnaire. Percentages were reported for all data. Principal component analysis was used to find underlying structures of correlations among variables, and Cronbach's alpha reliability analysis was used to demonstrate internal consistency of each scale. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.025 in all the analyses. RESULTS: Principal component analysis pointed at a specific visceral symptom-complex relating to the abdominal organs. This correlation was called "visceral syndrome" and consisted of the seven symptoms; "abdominal pain with no relation to menstruation", "pain during urination", "pain during defecation", "constipation or diarrhea", "irregular bleeding", "nausea or vomiting" and "feeling tired/lack of energy", with a Cronbach's alpha value α=0.85. More women with endometriosis than reference women suffered between five and seven symptoms from the visceral syndrome (22.7% vs. 2.7%) and more women with endometriosis compared to women with pain from other conditions suffered between five and seven symptoms from the visceral syndrome (22.7% vs. 3.2%). CONCLUSION: These data indicate that a significant number of endometriosis patients suffer from a specific symptom correlation, which is uncommon in women without the disease. These findings and previous data may suggest the occurrence of a visceral syndrome in endometriosis.

The influence of endometriosis-related symptoms on work life and work ability: a study of Danish endometriosis patients in employment.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the implications of endometriosis on women's work life. This study aimed at examining the relation between endometriosis-related symptoms and work ability in employed women with endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN: In a cohort study, 610 patients with diagnosed endometriosis and 751 reference women completed an electronic survey based on the Endometriosis Health Profile 30-questionnaire and the Work Ability Index (short form). Percentages were reported for all data. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess risk factors for low work ability. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.025 in all analyses. RESULTS: In binary analyses a diagnosis of endometriosis was associated with more sick days, work disturbances due to symptoms, lower work ability and a wide number of other implications on work life in employed women. Moreover, a higher pain level and degree of symptoms were associated with low work ability. Full regression analysis indicated that tiredness, frequent pain, a higher daily pain level, a higher number of sick days and feeling depressed at work were associated with low work ability. A long delay from symptom onset to diagnosis was associated with low work ability. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate a severe impact of endometriosis on the work ability of employed women with endometriosis and add to the evidence that this disease represents a significant socio-economic burden.