Guided by Fredrickson's broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, this study examined how nostalgic feelings toward past exercise experiences relate to two psychological resources—intrinsic motivation and cognitive flexibility, and whether these resources mediate the relationship between exercise nostalgia and exercise intention. A total of 324 responses were collected from individuals who reported nostalgic feelings about past exercise. Participants completed the validated self-report scales measuring exercise nostalgia, intrinsic motivation, cognitive flexibility, and exercise intention. A confirmatory factor analysis verified the internal consistency and construct validity of the measurement model. Mediation tests were conducted using Hayes's PROCESS macro (Model 6), with bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals to estimate indirect effects. Results showed that exercise nostalgia was positively associated with intrinsic motivation and cognitive flexibility, which were significantly associated with exercise intention. These findings underscore the potential of nostalgia-based strategies, particularly when combined with autonomy-supportive and varied training environments, to promote long-term exercise intention.
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