Nostalgia as a Bridge Across Time: The Roles of Self-Continuity, Media Experiences, and Goal Motivation

This study investigates how media-evoked nostalgia shapes hedonic and eudaimonic entertainment experiences and motivates both prosocial and self-oriented personal goals through self-continuity. Across two studies using experimental and survey designs, participants either watched nostalgic media clips (Study 1) or recalled personally meaningful media experiences (Study 2). In Study 1, nostalgic clips increased enjoyment, appreciation, and self-continuity, and nostalgia indirectly predicted prosocial motivation through self-continuity and appreciation, whereas enjoyment did not predict prosocial outcomes. Study 2 replicated the central role of self-continuity and showed that appreciation predicted prosocial goals and self-oriented goals related to self-growth and popularity, whereas enjoyment primarily predicted hedonism. Overall, these findings suggest that self-continuity plays an important role in nostalgic media experiences, helping explain how nostalgic reflection transforms entertainment responses into future-oriented motivations.