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Promoting Walking Among Older Adults Through Nostalgia-Based Messages and Step-Monitoring
Sponsor: Catholic University, Italy
Summary
Physical inactivity increases substantially after age 60 and represents a major public health challenge in older adults, as it is linked to increased risk of functional and cognitive decline and aging problems. Walking is one of the most accessible and recommended forms of moderate physical activity for this population. However, promoting sustained engagement in walking remains difficult, as traditional informational approaches often fail to activate personally meaningful motivations. This study tests whether nostalgia-based persuasive messages can promote walking by leveraging psychologically meaningful connections with the past. Nostalgia, a predominantly positive, bittersweet emotion associated with meaningful past experience, has been shown to strengthen self-continuity, self-esteem, and psychological well-being in older adults. Building on this framework, the present trial examines whether nostalgic memories can strengthen motivation to engage in walking behavior. In addition, the study investigates whether combining nostalgia-based messaging with a self-regulation strategy (daily step monitoring) enhances intervention effectiveness. Self-monitoring is a well-established behavioral technique that supports goal pursuit by increasing awareness and feedback. Using a randomized controlled 4-arm factorial design, the study compares the effects of nostalgia-based messages, step-monitoring, their combination, and an attention control condition on walking behavior and its psychological determinants. A national sample of 1,000 Italian adults aged 65-74, recruited through a certified panel provider (Ipsos) and balanced for age, gender, and geographic region, will be randomly assigned to one of the four conditions. All participants will receive one message per day for 14 days via a mobile application. Participants in the self-monitoring conditions will also be asked to track and report their daily step count using a pedometer application. Behavioral, psychological, and process measures will be collected at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. The study aims to provide experimental evidence on the role of nostalgia as a motivational driver of health behavior change and to clarify whether combining affective and self-regulatory strategies enhances intervention effectiveness in older adults.
Official title: 4-Arm Randomised Controlled Trial Testing Nostalgia-Based Messages and Step-Monitoring to Promote Walking in Older Adults Aged 65-74: A Study Protocol
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
65 Years - 74 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
1000
Start Date
2026-05
Completion Date
2026-07
Last Updated
2026-05-06
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Nostalgia-based messages promoting walking
All messages, delivered digitally via PsyMe, differ in content. The Day 1 introductory message presents a daily walking goal consistent with WHO recommendations and informs participants that subsequent messages describe the benefits of walking. Participants will be encouraged to pursue the goal according to their individual capabilities. Messages delivered from Day 2 to Day 13 are designed to activate different positive nostalgic experiences related to walking and movement, including past memories, emotions, bodily sensations, personal values, and self-concepts. These messages link walking behaviour to such positive experiences using counterfactual formulations (e.g., "If you walk as much as possible today, you may reconnect with sensations your body knows well."). Message openings vary and include exclamatory statements, memory prompts, or rhetorical questions. The Day 14 message concludes the intervention.
Step-monitoring reminders promoting walking
All messages, delivered digitally via PsyMe, differ in content. The Day 1 introductory message presents a daily walking goal consistent with WHO recommendations and informs participants that subsequent messages prompt them to monitor their daily step count. Participants will be encouraged to pursue the physical activity goal according to their individual capabilities. Messages delivered from Day 2 to Day 13 provide reminders to monitor step counts throughout the day using the pedometer app and to record the total number of daily steps in PsyMe at the end of the day (e.g., "During the day, monitor your step count using the pedometer app. This evening, record the total number of steps in the app."). The Day 14 message concludes the intervention.
Messages about water intake benefits
All messages, delivered digitally via PsyMe, differ in content and do not include any walking-related prompts. The Day 1 introductory message presents a daily water-intake goal consistent with standard recommendations and informs participants that subsequent messages describe the benefits of adequate hydration. Participants will be encouraged to pursue the goal according to their individual capabilities. Messages delivered from Day 2 to Day 13 provide brief information about different beneficial effects of adequate water intake and link hydration to each outcome using counterfactual formulations (e.g., "If you drink the recommended amount of water today, you may support your energy levels and help prevent lapses in concentration"). Message openings vary and include exclamatory statements, memory prompts, or rhetorical questions. The Day 14 message concludes the intervention.
Nostalgia-based messages & Step-monitoring reminders promoting walking
The messages, delivered digitally via PsyMe, are constructed by combining the exact texts used in the nostalgia and step-monitoring conditions. The Day 1 introductory message presents a daily walking goal consistent with WHO recommendations and informs participants that subsequent messages describe the benefits of walking and prompt them to monitor their daily step count. Participants will be encouraged to pursue the physical activity goal according to their individual capabilities. Messages delivered from Day 2 to Day 13 1) activate different positive nostalgic experiences related to walking and link walking behaviour to such positive experiences using counterfactual formulations, 2) provide reminders to track steps throughout the day using the pedometer app and record daily totals in PsyMe. The Day 14 message concludes the intervention.
Locations (1)
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Milan)
Milan, Milan, Italy