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The Stranger Things effect: why nostalgia builds connection and improves our mood

Nostalgia is often described as a wistful longing for the past - a warm feeling that takes us back to a time when we felt happier or more secure. But it isn’t always tied to a specific decade or moment. Sometimes it comes from shared experiences we all relate to, such as the honesty of childhood friendships, the simplicity of growing up, or the sense that life once seemed easier to understand. We explore how nostalgia may support our emotional wellbeing and why pop-culture favourites such as Stranger Things help shape our mood.

by Victoria Raw