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dc.contributor.advisorCox, Cathy
dc.contributor.authorMartinez, Jasmine
dc.date2015-12-01
dc.date.accessioned2016-02-19T15:38:32Z
dc.date.available2016-02-19T15:38:32Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.tcu.edu/handle/116099117/10388
dc.description.abstractThe present research examined whether people engage in health-relevant behaviors more in relation to experiencing nostalgia, a sentimental longing for the past (see Sedikides, Wildschut, Arndt, & Routledge, 2008 for review). Previous research has shown that nostalgic thinking is associated with better physical well-being (Kersten & Cox, 2014). Specifically, the results showed that nostalgia leads to greater health optimism, which promoted more positive health attitudes and increased health behavior intentions (e.g., eating nutritionally, exercising). I examined whether nostalgia-induced health optimism increases actual health behaviors (e.g., exercise). Specifically, over the course of 2 weeks, participants were brought into the laboratory to write about either a nostalgic (vs. ordinary) event (Wildschut et al., 2006) and to complete a measure of health optimism (Aspinwall & Brunhart, 1996). Further, to measure the extent to which people engaged in exercise, participants were equipped with a wireless fitness tracker (i.e., Fitbit) to measure their daily physical activity (e.g., steps taken). The study found, through mediational analyses that nostalgia led to greater feelings of health optimism, which in turn, led to greater physical activity over the course of 2 weeks. These findings suggest that nostalgic reverie increases the extent to which individuals engage in physical activity.
dc.subjectNostalgia
dc.subjectHealth Optimism
dc.subjectPhysical Activity
dc.titleNostalgia Induced Health Optimism Increases Physical Activity
etd.degree.departmentPsychology
local.collegeCollege of Science and Engineering
local.collegeJohn V. Roach Honors College
local.departmentPsychology


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