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An experiment examined the potency of nostalgia—a sentimental longing for one's past—to facilitate detection of death-related stimuli, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and behavioral techniques (i.e., judgmental accuracy, reaction times). We hypothesized and found that, at the neural level, nostalgic (relative to control) participants evinced more intense activation in right amygdala in response to death-related (vs. neutral) words. We also hypothesized and found that, at the behavioral level, nostalgic (relative to control) participants manifested greater accuracy in judging whether two death-related (vs. neutral) words belonged in the same category. Exploratory analyses indicated that nostalgic (relative to control) participants did not show faster reaction times to death-related (vs. neutral) words. In all, nostalgia appeared to aid in death threat detection. We consider implications for the relevant literatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the access that culturally diverse migrant groups in Australia have to different sources of social support and how this access, or lack thereof, is associated with psychological flourishing and distress. A national online survey was conducted with 1334 migrants in Australia, examining 11 different sources of social support, including family, friends, relationship partner, acquaintances, work colleagues, health professionals, government agencies, community organisations, religious groups, social groups and online groups. We also examined migrants from different cultural groups. All sources of support were significantly associated with mental health, but somewhat differently for the dimensions of distress and flourishing. Flourishing was linked to higher support from all 11 sources, though not for all cultural groups. High psychological distress was linked to lower support only from family, friends, a partner, acquaintances, work colleagues and social groups, and only for some cultural groups. In particular, for distress, there was no link between migrants from Southern Asia and family support, as well as Confucian Asia groups and friend support. Understanding where migrants from different cultural origins draw their support from could help policymakers and support workers improve health and well-being in migrant populations, especially by focusing on sources of support that are linked to lower distress and greater flourishing, as indicated in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The happiness or flourishing of migrants in their new country has important implications for health and social costs. Most migrant well-being studies only focus on psychological distress. Here, we specifically examine demographic, social, and psychological factors related to a broader spectrum of well-being, not only distress but also flourishing. A national online survey was conducted involving 1446 migrants to Australia. Drawing on the Dual Continuum Model, we examined flourishing and distress as separate outcomes. Numerous factors were associated with both outcomes, including experiences of racism or discrimination, being satisfied with new friendships and wishing to go back to one's home country. However, some factors varied by outcome, including younger age linked to distress but not to flourishing. Also, identifying with being Australian and the source of income were some factors specifically linked to a greater likelihood of flourishing. Promoting flourishing appears to depend on a range of different factors than simply preventing distress. These findings provide a greater understanding of the unique challenges that migrants can face in mental health outcomes, and can help prevent distress and promote flourishing and happiness as goals in migrant well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interplay of culture and self has been one of the most active areas of research in self and identity. It has provided a number of theoretical concepts and research methodologies that have advanced the psychological understanding about self processes. This paper provides a concise review of the field's underlying assumptions, and points to its contemporary issues and future directions. In particular, we begin by reviewing the work of Triandis Psychological Review, 96, 506-520, () and Markus and Kitayama Psychological Review, 98, 224-253, (), point to questions about the content and process surrounding culture and self, and end with a description of a new research program that expands on the current culture and self literature by posing a broader question of the cultural conception of what it means to be human and the interplay between humanness conception and self conception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]