An exercise in nostalgia: Nostalgia promotes health optimism and physical activity

• Published in: Psychology & health 2016-10, Vol.31 (10), p.1166-1181
• Main Authors: Kersten, Mike, Cox, Cathy R., Van Enkevort, Erin A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Attitude to Health; Exercise; Female; health behaviour; health optimism; Health Promotion - methods; Humans; Male; Memory, Episodic; nostalgia; Optimism; physical health; well-being; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0887-0446; 1476-8321
• DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2016.1185524

Objective: Previous research has shown that nostalgia, a sentimental longing for the past, leads to greater feelings of optimism, with other work demonstrating that optimistic thinking (general & health-orientated) is associated with better physical and psychological health. Integrating these two lines of research, the current studies examined whether nostalgia-induced health optimism promotes attitudes and behaviours associated with better physical well-being. Methods: Participants, in three experiments, were randomly assigned to write about either a nostalgic or ordinary event. Following this, everyone completed a measure of health optimism (Studies 1-3), measures of health attitudes (Study 2) and had their physical activity monitored over the course of 2 weeks (Study 3). Results: The results revealed that, in comparison to control conditions, nostalgic reverie led to greater health optimism (Studies 1-3). Further, heightened health optimism following nostalgic reflection led to more positive health attitudes (Study 2), and increased physical activity over a two-week period (i.e. Fitbit activity trackers; Study 3). Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of nostalgia on health attitudes and behaviours. Specifically, this work suggests that nostalgia can be used as a mechanism to increase the importance, perceived efficacy and behaviour associated with better physical health.