The positive effect of nostalgia provides an effective way to improve subjective well-being. However, there is little research on the relationship between nostalgia and subjective well-being, especially the mechanism of this link. This study tested the positive effects of nostalgia on emotional well-being (positive affect and negative affect) and cognitive well-being (satisfaction with life) via gratitude. Two experiments were conducted in samples of young adults who were randomized to experimental or control conditions. The analyses involved group comparisons as well as regression-based analyses of mediation. In Experiment 1 (N = 196), we induced nostalgia using a guided autobiographical recall procedure. The nostalgia group had higher positive affect and gratitude, and gratitude partially mediated the association between nostalgia and positive affect. In Experiment 2 (N = 102), we induced nostalgia by showing a nostalgic video from the period when the participants were children. The nostalgia group had higher positive affect and lower negative affect, and gratitude partially mediated these associations. The findings suggest that nostalgia could improve emotional well-being by increasing gratitude, but may not alter cognitive well-being.

怀旧的积极作用为提高主观幸福感提供了有效途径。然而，关于怀旧与主观幸福感的关系，尤其是这一联系的机制，研究甚少。这项研究通过感恩测试了怀旧对情绪健康（积极影响和消极影响）和认知健康（对生活的满意度）的积极影响。在随机分配到实验或对照条件的年轻人样本中进行了两项实验。这些分析涉及组比较以及基于回归的调解分析。在实验 1 ( N = 196)，我们使用引导式自传回忆程序诱发怀旧情绪。怀旧组具有更高的积极情绪和感激之情，而感激在怀旧和积极情绪之间的关联中起到了部分中介作用。在实验 2（N  = 102）中，我们通过播放参与者童年时期的怀旧视频来诱发怀旧情绪。怀旧组具有较高的积极影响和较低的消极影响，而感恩部分地介导了这些关联。研究结果表明，怀旧可以通过增加感恩来改善情绪健康，但可能不会改变认知健康。