From awe to wellness: how awe encourages health-promoting lifestyles through authentic-self pursuit

Adopting health-promoting lifestyles is essential for maintaining physical and psychological well-being. Drawing on an emotion-based perspective, the present research tested the hypotheses that awe promotes engagement in health-promoting lifestyles and that this effect is driven by individuals’ pursuit of their authentic selves. Across five studies (N = 1285), Studies 1–3 employed longitudinal designs, showing that trait awe positively predicts engagement in health-promoting lifestyles over time, with Study 3 further revealing that this effect is mediated by authentic-self pursuit. Following a causal chain design, Study 4 employed an experimental design to demonstrate the mediation model at the causal level. Study 4a showed the causal effect of awe on authentic-self pursuit and health-promoting lifestyle intentions. Study 4b further demonstrated the causal effect of authentic-self pursuit on health-promoting lifestyle intentions. These findings establish awe as a distinct emotional antecedent of health-promoting lifestyles and underscore its role in supporting long-term well-being.