Nostalgia as an affective driver in running: Associations with intrinsic motivation, serious leisure, flow, and well-being

Abstract

This study tested an integrated model to examine how nostalgia for running experiences functions as an affective driver promoting intrinsic motivation, serious leisure, flow, and well-being among young adult runners. Cultural differences were explored in these relationships by comparing samples from South Korea and China. In total, 635 responses (309 from South Korea and 326 from China) were collected from Millennials and Generation Z runners who reported nostalgic feelings about their running experience. Results showed that nostalgia positively predicted intrinsic motivation, serious leisure, and flow. Intrinsic motivation was a significant predictor of serious leisure and flow. Additionally, nostalgia, intrinsic motivation, serious leisure, and flow significantly contributed to well-being. Multi-group analysis revealed that the direct path from nostalgia to well-being was significantly stronger in the Chinese sample than in the South Korean sample. Thus, nostalgia for past running experiences serves as a potent psychological mechanism that fosters a chain of positive psychological states and behaviours, leading to sustained engagement and enhanced well-being. The results highlight the universal importance of nostalgia in leisure contexts while also showing that the cultural context regulates the strength of the direct association between nostalgic emotions and well-being.