Antecedents, Boundary Conditions and Consequences of Flow

Barthelmäs, Michael; Keller, Johannes

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-53468-4_3

Cited by 26 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 90 publications

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“…In addition, Peifer and Engeser (2021b) labeled a secondary core dimension as “perceived demand-skill balance.” An important differentiating approach between the findings of this review and Peifer and Engeser’s (2021b) labeling of “perceived demand-skill balance” is that sources within this review highlighted (both psychologically and neuroscientifically) that it is the sense of “effortlessness” (i.e., a subjective sense of the act being less effortful or more fluid than usual) toward the sense of control that differentiates flow from other forms of high control (also see Peifer & Tan, 2021). Additionally, we observed that review sources in our work recognized the optimal level of challenge dimension (i.e., perceived demand-skill balance) as an antecedent to flow (e.g., Barthelmäs & Keller, 2021)—one that should be separated, therefore, from the experience of a high effort-less sense of control. Another important differentiating approach between this review and Peifer and Engeser’s (2021b) suggested core dimensions, is that although both the findings of this review and Peifer and Engeser’s (2021b) work aimed to encapsulate the autotelic experience of flow, we labeled that dimension as “intrinsic reward,” differing from Peifer and Engeser’s (2021b) utilization of the term “enjoyment.” In this review, sources highlighted that to acknowledge an experience as “enjoyable” (or not) involves reflective cognitive processes that are deemed open to bias from outcomes and contextual or social factors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Advancing our understanding of psychological flow: A scoping review of conceptualizations, measurements, and applications.

Norsworthy

Jackson

Dimmock

2021

Psychological Bulletin

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Research on psychological flow is well established, although criticisms remain regarding conceptual and measurement issues associated with the construct. This scoping review maps flow-related research across scientific disciplines, examining the conceptualization, measurement instruments, and outcomes of flow between 2012 and 2019. Across 236 sources that met the review criteria, 108 different flowrelated constructs were measured by 141 instruments, and 84 possible antecedents were identified. Despite the varied approaches, a common set of overarching antecedent constructs included "optimal challenge" and "high motivation," and recurring characteristics of the flow experience itself included "absorption," "effort-less control," and "intrinsic reward." Applied studies-albeit inconsistent in approach and largely correlational in nature-predominantly linked flow to "positive development" (i.e., well-being and health), "high functioning," and "further engagement." We contextualize the findings of the review relative to important work on flow that has recently emerged (following the review period)in doing so, we hope this review offers a contemporary framework that can be used for the study of flow across scientific disciplines. Public Significance StatementThis review scopes flow research across all scientific disciplines and identifies key commonalities and differences in how researchers have conceptualized the psychological state of flow-an optimal experience often referred to as being "in the zone." It addresses inconsistencies and concerns of practical application that characterize some contemporary flow-related models and studies. This review also provides a framework--derived from the findings of the review--for the study of flow antecedents and experiential dimensions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Advancing our understanding of psychological flow: A scoping review of conceptualizations, measurements, and applications.

Norsworthy

Jackson

Dimmock

2021

Psychological Bulletin

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“…Although we did not specifically ask the question of why employees were experiencing work intensity, this likely has important implications for its effects. For example, flow theory suggests that the types of personal perceptions regarding the meaningfulness of felt intensity would be related to stress reactions (Barthelm€ as and Keller, 2021). Therefore, we suggest that questions related to the reasons or motivations for work intensity would be helpful to include in the future research.…”

Section: Directions For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 97%

Off-the-job embeddedness moderates work intensity on employee stress

Treuren

Fein

2021

EBHRM

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PurposeWork intensity causes employee stress. This paper demonstrates that off-the-job embeddedness (OffJE), a potential source of social support resources, buffers the negative effect of work intensity on employee stress.Design/methodology/approachGuided by conservation of resources (COR) and job embeddedness theory (JET), this paper reports on the moderated regression analysis of the survey responses of 385 adult employees from a variety of industries in Queensland, Australia, using a student-recruited sampling strategy.FindingsHigher levels of work intensity were found to be associated with higher levels of employee stress. However, this effect was weaker for employees who had higher OffJE. In this sample, work intensity has no relationship with stress for employees who report OffJE beyond the 70th percentile.Originality/valueThis paper demonstrates the positive role of outside workplace relationships embodied in OffJE on workplace employee experience, justifies employer work-life balance initiatives and community involvement, demonstrates the potential positive return for employer involvement in helping employees manage the experience of work intensity and contributes to the social support, COR and job embeddedness literature studies.

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“…Since interventions to increase flow experience could be applied at different levels, both the individual and the organization can increase the flow experience at work (e.g., setting clear goals, coaching from the supervisor, [ 120 ]). Flow experience can only occur under certain conditions [ 121 ]. In the future, studies should investigate to what extent flow can be seen as a protective factor against burnout symptoms or whether accompanying circumstances (e.g., clear goals, unambiguous feedback, perceived demand-skill balance, [ 121 ]) exert these protective effects of flow.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Flow experience can only occur under certain conditions [ 121 ]. In the future, studies should investigate to what extent flow can be seen as a protective factor against burnout symptoms or whether accompanying circumstances (e.g., clear goals, unambiguous feedback, perceived demand-skill balance, [ 121 ]) exert these protective effects of flow.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationship between Flow Experience and Burnout Symptoms: A Systematic Review

Aust

Beneke

Peifer

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Background: In today’s performance-oriented society, burnout symptoms, defined as consequences of chronic work stress, are an increasing problem. To counteract this development, the important aims are (1) to find protective and modifiable factors that reduce the risk of developing and harboring burnout symptoms and (2) to understand the underlying mechanisms. A phenomenon potentially furthering both aims is flow experience. Based on the earlier literature, we developed a psycho-physiological “Flow-Burnout-Model”, which postulates positive or negative associations between flow and burnout symptoms, depending on the prevailing situational and personal conditions. Methods: To test our Flow-Burnout-Model, we conducted a systematic literature search encompassing flow and burnout symptoms. Eighteen empirical studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Results: The findings of the systematic review as a whole suggest a negative association between flow and burnout symptoms, both cross-sectional and longitudinal. According to the findings from longitudinal studies, flow can be interpreted as a protective factor against burnout symptoms, and burnout symptoms can be interpreted as a factor inhibiting flow. In our conclusion, we maintain the assumption of a bidirectional association between flow and burnout symptoms in the Flow-Burnout-Model but modify the initially suggested positive and negative associations between flow and burnout symptoms towards a predominantly negative relationship. Discussion: Mindful of the heterogeneous findings of earlier studies, the resulting comprehensive Flow-Burnout-Model will lay the foundations for future hypothesis-based research. This includes physiological mechanisms explaining the relationship between flow and burnout symptoms, and likewise, the conditions of their longitudinal association.

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Antecedents, Boundary Conditions and Consequences of Flow

Cited by 26 publications

References 90 publications

Advancing our understanding of psychological flow: A scoping review of conceptualizations, measurements, and applications.

Advancing our understanding of psychological flow: A scoping review of conceptualizations, measurements, and applications.

Off-the-job embeddedness moderates work intensity on employee stress

The Relationship between Flow Experience and Burnout Symptoms: A Systematic Review

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