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Psychological Correlates of Flow in Sport
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine possible psychological correlates of flow in a sample of older athletes. Both state and trait, or dispositional flow states, were examined. Masters athletes completed questionnaire assessments on two occasions while competing at an international masters sport competition. The participants (398) completed a questionnaire assessing intrinsic/extrinsic motivation, goal orientation, trait anxiety, perceived ability, and typical flow experiences (trait) when participating in sport. Of these participants, 213 completed a questionnaire after and in relation to one event they competed in at the Games. This second questionnaire assessed state flow, as well as perceptions of success, skills, and challenges in a selected sport event. Correlational and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine psychological correlates of state and trait flow. Patterns of relationships were found between flow and perceived ability, anxiety, and an intrinsic motivation variable. Understanding flow and its relationship with other psychological variables are discussed.
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“Jackson et al. (1998) have emphasized that the cognitive aspects of anxiety, such as lack of concentration and worries, play a more significant role in impeding flow states compared to physiological aspects.”
From Mindfulness and self-rated performance among novice athletes in China: a sequential mediating role of flow and cognitive anxiety (2025) · cites this paper as Jackson et al., 1998
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Objectification Theory and Psychology of Women: A Decade of Advances and Future Directions
Moradi, B., & Huang, Y.-P. (2008) · Psychology of Women Quarterly · doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2008.00452.x · Cited by 1,071
“Some authors used selected subscales of the Flow State Scale (Jackson & Marsh, 1996), some used the Flow Trait Scale (Jackson, Kimiecik, Ford, & Marsh, 1998), some developed study-specific measures (e.g., Tiggemann & Slater, 2001), and Szymanski and Henning (2007) developed a new measure.”
MethodVlachopoulos, S. P., & Michailidou, S. (2006) · Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science · doi:10.1207/s15327841mpee1003_4 · Cited by 661
“Construct validity evidence has been reported for the TFS through correlations with theoretically related variables (Jackson et al., 1998).”
BackgroundValidation of the revised sport motivation scale (SMS-II)
Pelletier, L. G., Rocchi, M., Vallerand, R. J., Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2012) · Psychology of sport and exercise · doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.12.002 · Cited by 637
Jackson, S. A., Martin, A. J., & Eklund, R. C. (2008) · Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology · doi:10.1123/jsep.30.5.561 · Cited by 504
“A related concept, perceived competence in one’s targeted activity, is also included, as previous research by Jackson and colleagues (e.g., Jackson et al., 1998) has shown this construct to be strongly associated with flow.”
BackgroundResultSelf-citationJob characteristics, flow, and performance: The moderating role of conscientiousness.
Demerouti, E. (2006) · Journal of Occupational Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/1076-8998.11.3.266 · Cited by 424
Metadata
- Authors
- Jackson, S. A., Ford, S. K., Kimiecik, J. C., & Marsh, H. W.
- Affiliations
- Queensland University of Technology (AU)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- Miami University (US)
- Western Sydney University (AU)
- Venue
- Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
- Publisher
- Human Kinetics
- Published
- 1998-12
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 358-378
- ISSN
- 0895-2779 (ISSN-L)
- 1543-2904
- OpenAlex
- W2126256904
- Cited by
- 408
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 36 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 2.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Flow Experience in Various Fields
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
- Keywords
- flow, older athletes, masters athletes, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, goal orientation, trait anxiety, perceived competence, athletic performance, psychological correlates
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