Being a kid again: Playing Pokemon Go contributes to well-being through nostalgia

Wulf, Tim und Baldwin, Matthew (2020): Being a kid again: Playing Pokemon Go contributes to well-being through nostalgia. In: Scm Studies in Communication and Media, Vol. 9, No. 2: pp. 241-263

Abstract

This research investigates the augmented-reality smartphone game Pokemon Go and proposes that nostalgia is one particular reason for the game's popularity and success. We propose that nostalgia acts as both a precursor to individuals' desire to play the game, and a variable that predicts entertainment experiences and well-being while using the game. Two studies investigate these predictions. Study 1 was conducted in Germany before the game's release in 2016 and shows that the meaning players ascribe to Pokemon predicted anticipated nostalgia, which in turn motivated them to play the game. Study 2 replicates and extends these findings in an American sample after the game's release. Again, meaningfulness of Pokemon predicted game-induced nostalgia, which mediated the effect of meaningfulness on eudaimonic entertainment. Eudaimonic entertainment, in turn, predicted psychological well-being. Taken together, these findings draw a bi-directional link between nostalgia and media consumption and substantiate research regarding the well-being functions of both.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Social Sciences > Department of Communications and Media (IfKW)
• Subjects: 000 Computer science, information and general works > 070 News media, journalism and publishing
• Language: English