Music-Related Nostalgic Experiences of Young Migrants

Abstract

Music is a powerful means for constructing identity – both formulating and remembering who one is – and migration can be seen as a particular situation creating challenges for this sense of identity. This qualitative study focused on investigating music-related nostalgic experiences of young migrants. The aim of the study was to identify features characteristic to music-related nostalgia particularly in relation to the experience of migration. Ten university students (Iranians currently living in migration) participated in the study. Data was collected through spoken interviews with an additional short questionnaire and a task to listen to self-selected nostalgic music. The interviews focused on the participants’ current situation in the foreign country, their nostalgic experiences and the role of music in their nostalgic experiences. The data was analyzed qualitatively through the grounded theory approach. The results showed that the participants’ nostalgic memories focused on their home country. The inclusion of music to nostalgic episodes appeared to intensify and stimulate the experience. The participants employed different strategic methods in utilization of music-related nostalgia: for counteracting loneliness, for bringing new perspectives into one’s sense of self, finding meaning in life, and sympathy for one’s feelings. Accordingly music seemed to play a triple role in nostalgic reverie; as a trigger, as a mean to recall and simulate the memory-related emotional state, and finally as a mood regulator tool. Furthermore, individual participants showed differences in their encounter style (avoidance or acceptance) towards nostalgic experiences. Preference for these encounter styles was influenced by the personal experiences and mood (including depression) of the participants.