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Cited by 148Nostalgia and Consumer BehaviorIdentity, Memory, and TherapyPsychological and Educational Research Studies

Nostalgia-Evoked Inspiration: Mediating Mechanisms and Motivational Implications

Stephan, Elena, Sedikides, Constantine, Wildschut, Tim, Cheung, Wing-Yee, Routledge, Clay, Arndt, Jamie·2015·Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
DOI 10.1177/0146167215596985
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Abstract

Six studies examined the nostalgia-inspiration link and its motivational implications. In Study 1, nostalgia proneness was positively associated with inspiration frequency and intensity. In Studies 2 and 3, the recollection of nostalgic (vs. ordinary) experiences increased both general inspiration and specific inspiration to engage in exploratory activities. In Study 4, serial mediational analyses supported a model in which nostalgia increases social connectedness, which subsequently fosters self-esteem, which then boosts inspiration. In Study 5, a rigorous evaluation of this serial mediational model (with a novel nostalgia induction controlling for positive affect) reinforced the idea that nostalgia-elicited social connectedness increases self-esteem, which then heightens inspiration. Study 6 extended the serial mediational model by demonstrating that nostalgia-evoked inspiration predicts goal pursuit (intentions to pursue an important goal). Nostalgia spawns inspiration via social connectedness and attendant self-esteem. In turn, nostalgia-evoked inspiration bolsters motivation.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

Six studies show that nostalgia is linked to and can increase inspiration, with social connectedness and self-esteem operating as serial mediators. Nostalgia-evoked inspiration also predicts greater motivation to pursue personal goals.

Key findings

  • In Study 1, nostalgia proneness correlated with inspiration frequency, \(r(83)=.23, p=.034\), inspiration intensity, \(r(83)=.30, p=.007\), and a composite inspiration measure, \(r(83)=.28, p=.010\).
  • In Study 2, recalling a nostalgic versus ordinary event raised general inspiration (\(M=3.35\) vs. \(2.72\); \(F(1,147)=12.86, p<.001\)). In Study 3, it raised specific inspiration to explore novel activities (\(M=3.71\) vs. \(3.04\); \(F(1,48)=5.64, p=.022\)).
  • Studies 4–6 supported a serial mediation path: nostalgia increased social connectedness, which increased self-esteem, which increased inspiration. For example, the serial indirect effect was \(a \times d \times f=.34\), 95% CI [0.08, 0.61] in Study 4, \(.43\), 95% CI [0.24, 0.66] in Study 5, and \(.35\), 95% CI [0.23, 0.50] in the pooled synthesis.
  • In Study 6, nostalgia increased goal pursuit (\(M=6.74\) vs. \(6.01\); \(F=5.31, p=.024\)) and inspiration (\(M=4.22\) vs. \(3.64\); \(F=4.59, p=.035\)); the indirect path through social connectedness, self-esteem, and inspiration was \(a \times e \times h \times j=.07\), 95% CI [.02, .20] when controlling for positive affect.

Methods

  • Six studies: Study 1 was a survey of 84 University of Southampton students; Studies 2–6 were experiments using nostalgia manipulations such as event reflection, nostalgic song lyrics, and narrative recall, with control or positive-event comparison conditions.
  • Participants were mainly UK undergraduates and US MTurk respondents; measures included nostalgia proneness, state nostalgia, general and specific inspiration, positive affect, social connectedness, self-esteem, and goal pursuit.
  • Main analyses used correlations, ANOVA, and serial mediation with bootstrapping (10,000 resamples); a research synthesis pooled Studies 4–6 (\(N=287\); \(N=285\) for positive-affect analyses), and alternative mediation sequences were compared using AIC and ECVI.

Limitations

  • The paper states that Studies 3, 4, and 6 had few men, that self-report measures may capture what people say rather than what they do, and that the measurement-of-mediation design cannot establish causal chains as well as experimental-causal-chain or longitudinal designs.
  • The paper also notes that future work should compare nostalgia with other positive states beyond luck and examine possible boundary conditions such as habitual worrying or neuroticism.
  • Evident from the text: the samples were mostly students or MTurk participants, limiting generalizability, and Study 1 was correlational, so it cannot support causal claims.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1177/0146167215596985

Cites

71 of 73 references verified0 citation errors · 2 not checkable

Statistics

13 tests recomputed · 0 with the reported and recomputed p on opposite sides of .05

Claims the paper makes

13 of 86 cited sources checked · 10 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Premisecitation

    Nostalgic reflection increases social connectedness.

    “social connectedness (i.e., a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and belongingness; Wildschut, Sedikides, Routledge, Arndt, & Cordaro, 2010;Zhou, Sedikides, Wildschut, & Gao, 2008)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Wildschut, Sedikides, Routledge, Arndt, & Cordaro, 2010 source
    • cites Zhou, Sedikides, Wildschut, & Gao, 2008 source
  • Study design and conductcitation

    The nostalgia manipulations were assessed with a validated three-item manipulation check.

    “we assessed the effectiveness of the nostalgia manipulations with a validated three-item manipulation check (Hepper et al., 2012;Wildschut et al., 2006)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Hepper et al., 2012 source
    • cites Wildschut et al., 2006 source

      The Manipulation check section describes a check of the nostalgia manipulation and reports high internal consistency (α = .96). It specifies two items, however, not the claimed three, and does not describe the check as validated. (LLM, conf=0.90)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Premisecitation

    Nostalgia increases social connectedness.

    “nostalgia increases social connectedness (Wildschut et al., 2006)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Wildschut et al., 2006 source
  • Premisecitation

    Nostalgia increases approach motivation behaviorally (e.g., seating distance and helping).

    “and behaviorally (e.g., seating distance and helping; Stephan et al., 2014)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Stephan et al., 2014 source
  • Premisecitation

    Nostalgic reflection increases self-esteem.

    “selfesteem (Hepper et al., 2012;Wildschut et al., 2006)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Hepper et al., 2012 source
    • cites Wildschut et al., 2006 source
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 33
  • May combine two claims. 43
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 3

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Nostalgia is felt commonly, approximately 3 times a week.

    “felt commonly (approximately 3 times a week; Wildschut, Sedikides, Arndt, & Routledge, 2006)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Wildschut, Sedikides, Arndt, & Routledge, 2006 source

      The Frequency of Nostalgia section says nostalgia was common: 79% of participants reported experiencing it at least weekly. Three or four times a week was the most frequently selected response (26%), but the median response was approximately twice a week, so three times a week is not supported as a typical frequency for participants overall. (LLM, conf=0.85)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Nostalgia affords not only intrapersonal benefits but also distinct patterns of future-oriented tendencies (i.e., inspiration, goal pursuit).

    “Nostalgia affords not only remarkable intrapersonal benefits (Sedikides et al., 2015) but also distinct patterns of futureoriented tendencies (i.e., inspiration, goal pursuit).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sedikides et al., 2015 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Nostalgia is a self-relevant, social, and predominantly positive emotion serving key psychological functions, including PA, social connectedness, and self-esteem.

    “We conceptualized nostalgia as a self-relevant, social, and predominantly positive emotion serving key psychological functions.These functions include (but are not limited to) PA, social connectedness, and self-esteem (Sedikides et al., 2015).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sedikides et al., 2015 source

      The Abstract describes nostalgia as predominantly positive and fundamentally social, while §4.4 identifies social connectedness and self-esteem as functions. Section 4.4 also says nostalgia can increase positive affect (PA), but distinguishes that affective effect from its psychological functions; §6.1 says those functions can occur regardless of positive affect. Thus, listing PA as a function overstates the source. (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    Nostalgia is often experienced as a positive emotion and is associated with optimism and growth.

    “This may explain why, despite the presence of negative affect, nostalgia is often experienced as a positive emotion and is associated with optimism (Cheung et al., 2013) and growth (Baldwin & Landau, 2014).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Cheung et al., 2013 source
    • cites Baldwin & Landau, 2014 source

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Nostalgia proneness is positively associated with inspiration intensity.

    “Nostalgia was positively related to both inspiration frequency, r(83) = .23,p = .034,and inspiration intensity, r(83) = .30,p = .007.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Nostalgia proneness is positively associated with inspiration frequency.

    “Nostalgia was positively related to both inspiration frequency, r(83) = .23,p = .034,and inspiration intensity, r(83) = .30,p = .007.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In Study 5, a rigorous evaluation of the serial mediational model reinforced the idea that nostalgia-elicited social connectedness increases self-esteem, which then heightens inspiration.

    “In Study 5, a rigorous evaluation of this serial mediational model (with a novel nostalgia induction controlling for positive affect) reinforced the idea that nostalgia-elicited social connectedness increases self-esteem, which then heightens inspiration.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In the research synthesis, the unique indirect effect via PA was significant, whereas it was not significant in any of the three individual studies.

    “Whereas the unique indirect effect via PA was significant in the research synthesis, it was not significant in any of the three individual studies (Table 2, Parallel mediational analysis).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In the research synthesis, both simple and parallel mediational analyses yielded significant indirect effects via PA, social connectedness, and self-esteem.

    “Both types of analysis yielded significant indirect effects via PA, social connectedness, and self-esteem.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In Study 5, results with the positive-event control condition were identical to those obtained previously (Study 4) and subsequently (Study 6) with the ordinary-event control condition.

    “The results were identical to those obtained previously (Study 4) and subsequently (Study 6) with the ordinary-event control condition.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Social connectedness per se predicted increased inspiration and mediated the effect of nostalgia on inspiration.

    “We found that social connectedness per se predicted increased inspiration and mediated the effect of nostalgia on inspiration.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Studies 1, 2, and 6 included adequate numbers of men and found no hint of sex differences in the relation between nostalgia and inspiration.

    “However, Studies 1, 2, and 6 included adequate numbers of men and found no hint of sex differences in the relation between nostalgia and inspiration.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Nostalgia increased inspiration by generating PA and boosting self-esteem (Study 4).

    “The current findings are consistent with this work, showing, in the context of simple mediational analyses, that nostalgia increased inspiration by generating PA and boosting self-esteem (Study 4).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Increased PA can be sufficient, but is not necessary, to carry the effect of nostalgia to social connectedness (and henceforth to self-esteem and inspiration).

    “The analyses revealed that increased PA can be sufficient, but is not necessary, to carry the effect of nostalgia to social connectedness (and henceforth to self-esteem and inspiration).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Nostalgia is associated with and prompts inspiration, both general and specific.

    “We established that nostalgia is associated with, and indeed prompts, inspiration-both general and specific.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Inspiration is an evoked experience that involves transcendence of ordinary preoccupations and motivates goal pursuit or behavior.

    “Inspiration is an evoked experience that involves transcendence of ordinary preoccupations and motivates goal pursuit or behavior (Thrash & Elliot, 2003, 2004).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Thrash & Elliot, 2003, 2004

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Studies 1, 2, and 5 contained adequate numbers of men and obtained no evidence for sex differences.

    “Studies 1, 2 and 5 contained adequate numbers of men and obtained no evidence for sex differences.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Positive affect and high self-esteem are crucial antecedents of inspiration.

    “Thrash and Elliot's (2003) findings suggest that PA and high self-esteem are crucial antecedents of inspiration.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Thrash and Elliot's (2003) source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Nostalgia is a self-relevant, social, and predominantly positive emotion.

    “Nostalgia, then, is a self-relevant, but social, as well as predominantly positive emotion that is felt commonly (approximately 3 times a week; Wildschut, Sedikides, Arndt, & Routledge, 2006) and across cultures (18 countries spanning five continents; Hepper et al., 2014).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Hepper et al., 2012 source
    • cites The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998)

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Trait inspiration predicts efficiency and productivity in writing.

    “as well as efficiency and productivity in writing (Thrash, Maruskin, et al., 2010)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Thrash, Maruskin, et al., 2010 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Nostalgia is felt across cultures (18 countries spanning five continents).

    “across cultures (18 countries spanning five continents; Hepper et al., 2014)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Hepper et al., 2014 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Securely attached individuals describe themselves as curious, perceive curiosity as an opportunity for growth, and engage in information search to satisfy their curiosity.

    “describe themselves as curious, perceive curiosity as an opportunity for growth, and engage in information search to satisfy their curiosity (Kumashiro & Sedikides, 2005;Mikulincer, 1997)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Kumashiro & Sedikides, 2005 source
    • cites Mikulincer, 1997 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The daily experience of inspiration predicts work mastery and creativity.

    “the daily experience of inspiration predicts work mastery and creativity (Thrash & Elliot, 2003).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Thrash & Elliot, 2003 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Trait inspiration predicts creativity in writing and poetry.

    “trait inspiration predicts creativity in writing and poetry (Thrash, Maruskin, Cassidy, Fryer, & Ryan, 2010)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Thrash, Maruskin, Cassidy, Fryer, & Ryan, 2010 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Nostalgia augments positive affect and self-esteem.

    “and that nostalgia augments both (Routledge, Wildschut, Sedikides, & Juhl, 2013)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Routledge, Wildschut, Sedikides, & Juhl, 2013 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    The association between social connectedness and inspiration has not been tested.

    “The association between social connectedness and inspiration has not been tested.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Laypersons conceive of nostalgia as a predominantly positive, social, and past-oriented emotion.

    “Hepper, Ritchie, Sedikides, and Wildschut (2012) demonstrated that laypersons conceive of nostalgia as a predominantly positive, social, and past-oriented emotion.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Hepper, Ritchie, Sedikides, and Wildschut (2012) source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    Evidence links social connectedness to cognitive openness and greater engagement with the environment, both antecedents to inspiration.

    “Hence, evidence links, albeit indirectly, social connectedness to cognitive openness and greater engagement with the environment, both of which were identified by Thrash and Elliot (2004) as antecedents to inspiration.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Thrash and Elliot (2004) source
    • Rests on an assumption: Social connectedness is a trademark of attachment security.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Inspiration motivates goal pursuit or behavior.

    “Researchers have argued that inspiration not only entails transcendence of mundane preoccupations, but it also motivates goal pursuit or behavior (Thrash & Elliot, 2003, 2004).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Thrash & Elliot, 2003, 2004

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Inspiration consists of two interrelated processes.

    “Inspiration consists of two interrelated processes (Thrash, Elliot, Maruskin, & Cassidy, 2010).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Thrash, Elliot, Maruskin, & Cassidy, 2010 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Trait inspiration predicts increased goal progress over time.

    “trait inspiration predicts increased goal progress over time (Milyavskaya, Ianakieva, Foxen-Craft, Colantuoni, & Koestner, 2012).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Milyavskaya, Ianakieva, Foxen-Craft, Colantuoni, & Koestner, 2012

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    In experiments (Studies 2-6), the number of observations per condition was stipulated to be equal to or greater than 20.

    “In the experiments (Studies 2-6), we did so under the stipulation that the number of observations per condition (n condition ) should be equal to or greater than 20 (Simmons, Nelson, & Simonsohn, 2011).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Simmons, Nelson, & Simonsohn, 2011 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Positive affect and self-esteem are antecedents of inspiration.

    “Research has now established that PA and self-esteem are antecedents of inspiration (Thrash & Elliot, 2003)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Thrash & Elliot, 2003 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Sex was excluded from the reported analyses.

    “We therefore excluded sex from the reported analyses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Serial mediational analyses gave credence to a theoretically grounded model in which nostalgia increases social connectedness, which subsequently fosters self-esteem, which then boosts inspiration.

    “Serial mediational analyses gave credence to a theoretically grounded model in which nostalgia increases social connectedness, which subsequently fosters self-esteem, which then boosts inspiration.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Study design and conductcitation

    It is inadvisable to make claims of complete versus partial mediation based on the non-significance of the direct effect.

    “it is inadvisable to make claims of complete (vs.partial) mediation based on the non-significance of the direct effect”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Environmental engagement and cognitive openness are antecedents to inspiration.

    “Indeed, Thrash and Elliot (2004) identified environmental engagement and cognitive openness as antecedents to inspiration.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Thrash and Elliot (2004) source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Study 5 furnished additional support for the mediating role of social connectedness and self-esteem: Nostalgia raised social connectedness, which predicted increased self-esteem, which foreshadowed inspiration.

    “Study 5 furnished additional support for the mediating role of social connectedness and self-esteem: Nostalgia raised social connectedness, which predicted increased selfesteem, which foreshadowed inspiration.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Social connectedness forms a platform for self-esteem and gives rise to it.

    “Social connectedness forms a platform for self-esteem and gives rise to it.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Bowlby, 1982

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Crocker & Wolfe, 2001 source
    • cites Leary, 2005 source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    Serial mediational analyses placed our hypotheses at risk.

    “we regard these analyses as informative, because they placed our hypotheses at risk (Fiedler, Schott, & Meiser, 2011).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Fiedler, Schott, & Meiser, 2011 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    By using the term indirect effect, we adopt the terminology of intervening variable models and do not claim support for causal effects.

    “By using the term indirect effect, we adopt the terminology of intervening variable models and do not claim support for causal effects.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    To secure high statistical power, a research synthesis based on the combined data of Studies 4 to 6 is reported.

    “To secure high statistical power, we also report a research synthesis based on the combined data of Studies 4 to 6.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    In Study 5, participants were randomly assigned to the nostalgia (n = 73) or positive-event (n = 77) condition.

    “We randomly assigned them to the nostalgia (n = 73) or positive-event (n = 77) condition.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    In Study 6, two independent judges identified three broad themes in the listed goals and agreed on 94.8% of cases (k = .89).

    “Two independent judges identified three broad themes in the listed goals: social (e.g., having a family), agentic (e.g., graduating with good grades), and hedonistic (e.g., enjoying life).They agreed on 94.8% of the cases (k = .89)and resolved disagreements through discussion.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    In Study 5, two participants failed to complete the PA measure.

    “Two participants failed to complete the PA measure.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    In Study 6, participants were randomly assigned to the nostalgia (n = 39) or control (n = 38) condition.

    “We assigned them randomly to the nostalgia (n = 39) or control (n = 38) condition.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationcitation

    This provides justification for examining perceived rather than actual social connectedness.

    “This provides justification for examining perceived rather than actual social connectedness.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The research capitalized on a systematic sequence of studies with a consistent replicate-and-extend strategy.

    “From a methodological standpoint, we capitalized on a systematic sequence of studies, with a consistent replicate-and-extend strategy.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    In the research synthesis, analyses featured study as a clustering variable, implemented via a fixed-effects approach with two dummy variables.

    “Given that individuals were nested within studies, our analyses featured”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Hayes, 2013

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    PA and self-esteem are antecedents of inspiration.

    “Thrash and Elliot (2003) identified PA and self-esteem as antecedents of inspiration.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Thrash & Elliot, 2003 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    By strengthening psychological resources-most crucially, social connectedness and self-esteem-nostalgia inspires individuals to enact new ideas and plans, which facilitate goal pursuit.

    “In all, by strengthening psychological resources-most crucially, social connectedness and self-esteem-nostalgia inspires individuals to enact new ideas and plans, which facilitate goal pursuit.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The original model, in addition to being firmly grounded in prior theory, provided a superior description of the combined data from Studies 4 to 6.

    “The original model, in addition to being firmly grounded in prior theory, provided a superior description of the combined data from Studies 4 to 6.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Waxing nostalgic (and repeatedly so) will lead to (and sustain) inspiration.

    “Our research offers a way to promote inspiration: Waxing nostalgic (and repeatedly so) will lead to (and sustain) inspiration.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Inspiration involves evocation, transcendence, and an approach orientation; it can be general or specific.

    “We defined inspiration as an experience that involves evocation (triggering by a stimulus beyond the self), transcendence (moving away from the routine and becoming aware of possibilities), and an approach orientation (feeling ready for enacting a new idea or plan; Thrash & Elliot, 2003, 2004).Inspiration can be general (”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Thrash & Elliot, 2003 source
    • cites Thrash & Elliot, 2004 source
    • cites Thrash, Elliot, et al., 2010 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    PA, social connectedness, and self-esteem qualified singly as mechanisms through which nostalgia enhances inspiration.

    “PA, social connectedness, and self-esteem qualified singly as mechanisms through which nostalgia enhances inspiration.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The serial mediational analyses of Studies 4 to 6 placed the hypothesized models at risk because failure of even a single link would have invalidated them, but each link held repeatedly.

    “That is, the postulated mediational chains comprised several links.Failure of even a single link would have invalidated the hypothesized models, but each link held and did so repeatedly.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Study 5 reinforced this model while ruling out the role of PA.

    “Study 5, in particular, reinforced this model while ruling out the role of PA.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Studies 3, 4, and 6 contained few men, and there may be sex differences that those studies could not detect.

    “Studies 3, 4, and 6 contained few men, and there may be sex differences that those studies could not detect.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The research used several techniques to manipulate nostalgia, relied on student and community (MTurk) samples, and recruited participants from two cultures (UK, US).

    “We also used several techniques to manipulate nostalgia (e.g., vividrecall, song lyrics, inclusion of a positive-event control condition), relied both on student and community (MTurk) samples, and recruited participants from two cultures (the United Kingdom, the United States).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Nostalgia-evoked inspiration bolstered motivation, and did so via a serial mediational pathway involving social connectedness and self-esteem (Study 6).

    “Finally, nostalgia-evoked inspiration bolstered motivation, and did so via a serial mediational pathway involving social connectedness and self-esteem (Study 6).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    AIC and ECVI can be used to compare competing models that need not be nested, with smaller values indicating better fit.

    “Within a set of models for the same data, the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC; Akaike, 1974) and Expected Cross Validation Index (ECVI; Browne & Cudeck, 1993) can be used to compare competing models that need not be nested (smaller is better).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Akaike, 1974 source
    • cites Browne & Cudeck, 1993

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The Study 6 results were consistent with a theoretical model according to which nostalgia-evoked inspiration spawns motivational goal pursuit, and it does so through increases in social connectedness and self-esteem.

    “The results were consistent with a theoretical model according to which nostalgia-evoked inspiration spawns motivational goal pursuit, and it does so through increases in social connectedness and self-esteem.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The mediation models in Studies 4 to 6 support a theoretically grounded sequence that follows from prior work on the functions of nostalgia, but would be more challenging to explain if the observed effects were due to some other consequence of the nostalgia manipulation.

    “Finally, the mediation models in Studies 4 to 6 support a theoretically grounded sequence that follows from prior work on the functions of nostalgia, but would be more challenging to explain if the observed effects were due to some other consequence of the nostalgia manipulation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Inspiration is distinct from PA and has unique antecedents, correlates, and consequences.

    “Although inspiration and positive affect (PA) are positively correlated (Thrash & Elliot, 2003), inspiration is distinct from PA and has unique antecedents, correlates, and consequences (Thrash, 2007).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Thrash, 2007

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    All items loaded on their intended factors and not on other factors, supporting that they measured empirically distinct constructs.

    “All items loaded on their intended factors (and not on other factors), supporting the conclusion that they measured empirically distinct constructs.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Inspiration and positive affect (PA) are positively correlated.

    “Although inspiration and positive affect (PA) are positively correlated (Thrash & Elliot, 2003), inspiration is distinct from PA and has unique antecedents, correlates, and consequences (Thrash, 2007).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Thrash & Elliot, 2003 source
66 of 66

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Social connectedness is a trademark of attachment security.

    “However, social connectedness is a trademark of attachment security.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The nostalgia manipulation check is a valid measure of state nostalgia.

    “The nostalgia manipulation check followed.”
    “Correlational analyses involving the nostalgia manipulation check revealed that the more nostalgic participants felt, the more inspired they were, r(150) = .45,p < .001.”
2 of 2

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Reading nostalgic (vs. non-nostalgic) lyrics increased social connectedness.

    “In all the experiments using this induction, reading nostalgic (vs. non-nostalgic) lyrics increased social connectedness.”

    From Nostalgia: An impactful social emotion (2023) · cites this paper as [31]

  • Nostalgia increases both inspiration and optimism, with social connectedness and self-esteem sequentially mediating these effects.

    “Investigations have revealed that nostalgia increases both inspiration [31] and optimism [6] and that social connectedness and self-esteem sequentially mediate these effects.”

    From Nostalgia: An impactful social emotion (2023) · cites this paper as [31]

Statistics that don’t add up

Each reported p-value recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom.

  • Inconsistent p-value: r(83) = .30,p = .007

    Minor

    The paper reports p = .007 here; recomputing from the test statistic and its degrees of freedom gives p = .005 (two-tailed). The check cannot tell whether the statistic or the p-value is the misprint.

    Reported p = .007 · recomputed p = .005

1 of 1

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • Doesn’t add upr(83) = 0.3reported p = .007 · recomputed p = .005

    “r(83) = .30,p = .007”

  • Consistentr(84) = 0.64reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “r(84) = .64,p < .001”

  • Consistentr(83) = 0.23reported p = .034 · recomputed p = .034

    “r(83) = .23,p = .034”

  • Consistentr(83) = 0.75reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “r(83) = .75,p < .001”

  • Consistentr(83) = 0.28reported p = .01 · recomputed p = .009

    “r(83) = .28,p = .010”

  • ConsistentF(1, 147) = 12.86reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(1, 147) = 12.86, p < .001”

  • Consistentr(149) = 0.41reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “r(149) = .41,p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 48) = 5.64reported p = .022 · recomputed p = .022

    “F(1, 48) = 5.64, p = .022”

  • Consistentr(50) = 0.47reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “r(50) = .47,p < .001”

  • Consistentr(59) = 0.53reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “r(59) = .53,p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 145) = 10.02reported p = .002 · recomputed p = .002

    “F(1, 145) = 10.02,p = .002”

  • Consistentr(150) = 0.45reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “r(150) = .45,p < .001”

  • Consistentr(77) = 0.4reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “r(77) = .40,p < .001”

13 of 13

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • The discussion names the wrong study as having enough men

    Minor

    The methodological section identifies Studies 1, 2, and 5 as having adequate numbers of men, but the weaknesses section substitutes Study 6. Study 6 reports 15 men, consistent with the methodological section's statement that it had fewer than 20.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Sedikides C., The handbook of positive clinical psychology
  2. Sedikides C., 2006, Affect in social thinking and behavior: Frontiers in social psychology, 197

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Stephan, E., Sedikides, C., Wildschut, T., Cheung, W.-Y., Routledge, C., & Arndt, J.
Affiliations
  • Bar-Ilan University (IL)
  • University of Southampton (GB)
  • North Dakota State University (US)
  • University of Missouri (US)
Corresponding author
Stephan, Elena
ORCID
Venue
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2015-07-30
Volume
41
Issue
10
Pages
1395-1410
ISSN
  • 0146-1672 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-7433
DOI
10.1177/0146167215596985
OpenAlex
W1684290529
Cited by
148
References
72
Citations by year
2026: 20 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2
FWCI
16.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (acceptedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Nostalgia and Consumer Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Psychological and Educational Research Studies
Keywords
nostalgia, inspiration, motivation, social connectedness, self-esteem, exploratory behavior, goal pursuit, serial mediation
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Emotions, Female, Goals, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Motivation, Mental Recall, Self Concept, Social Perception, Young Adult

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-11.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-11.

Cited sources are checked by gpt-6-sol.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

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