top of page

Ryan Dillard

Back to the Future: How Sport Nostalgia Enhances Well-Being

Sport nostalgia, characterized by the sentimental longing for past sporting experiences, has gained traction in the sport industry as a powerful tool for enhancing fan engagement and brand loyalty. Despite its growing application in marketing strategies, academic research on sport nostalgia remains underdeveloped, particularly in understanding its psychological and emotional impacts. This study explores the connection between sport nostalgia and eudaimonic well-being, which reflects an individual’s sense of purpose, self-actualization, and fulfillment. Guided by two research questions, the study investigates whether personal nostalgia (rooted in direct experiences) and vicarious nostalgia (stemming from shared or imagined experiences) influence eudaimonic well-being. Using an experimental design, participants were exposed to a nostalgia-inducing sport experience, followed by an assessment of their well-being levels. Preliminary findings suggest that both personal and vicarious nostalgia positively impact eudaimonic well-being, fostering emotional resilience, social connectedness, and optimism. This study contributes to sport management literature by bridging the gap between sport nostalgia and well-being, offering theoretical insights and practical implications for sport marketers. By leveraging nostalgic elements, sport organizations can deepen emotional connections with fans, enhance consumer satisfaction, and promote overall well-being, ultimately strengthening their brand-community relationship.

Trisha Hayes

Evaluation of Changes in Function performance After a 6-Month Exercise Program for Older Adults

Aging adults may experience decreased strength and function, heightening fall risk, particularly in individuals with cognitive impairments. The purpose of this investigation was to assess changes in body composition, gait speed, and upper extremity strength to determine the efficacy of a functional training program for improving motor function in older adults. Fifteen adults, ages 69-84, completed a training program for older adults with cognitive impairment. As a retrospective evaluation, progress parameters were measured at the start and every 6 months to assess function. Assessments measured gait speed by the 6-minute walk test, upper extremity strength (30 second biceps curl repetitions x load), and body composition (total and skeletal muscle mass, percent body fat), and skeletal muscle index (SMI). Average (±SD) age, stature, and SMI were 75.9±5.2 years, 173.2±8.6 cm, and 7.6±1.0 kg/m2 at baseline. There were no significant changes in body mass (p=0.664), skeletal muscle mass (p=0.241), or percent body fat (p=0.182). The distance walked in 6-minutes was unchanged (p=0.342). However, muscular strength and endurance improved over time (mean change 37.9 lb; p=0.001). Evaluating a pre-existing exercise program revealed functional deficits amongst older adults and beneficial training modes for enhancing physical and mental health and preventing age-associated medical conditions.

bottom of page