An examination of the flow mechanisms and aspects of athletes in sports: an application of the flow engine framework

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Sungho Kwon ^*/**, Doheung Lee ^**, Seungjoo Lee ^**, Taiwoo Kim ^** and Dojin Jang ^**

^(*) Institute of Sport Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
^(**) Department of Physical Education, College of Education, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Citation

Kwon, S., Lee, D., Lee, S., Kim, T., Jang, D. (2022). An examination of the flow mechanisms and aspects of athletes in sports: an application of the flow engine framework. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 53(5), 397-433. doi:10.7352/IJSP.2022.53.397

Abstract

Purpose: The current study explores the experiences of flow reported by athletes in competitive sporting environments based on the flow engine frame- work of Šimleša et al. (2018). Methods: Participants comprised 18 athletes, – 11 soccer players and 7 golf players – competing in professional-level compe- titions. Participants watched videos of competitions within 1 week after a play that were edited to include individual plays, and vividly reported their experienc- es of flow, which were categorized into three constructs: conditions, states, and consequences, that correspond to the fundamental axis of the IPO (Inputs- Pro- cesses-Outputs) model in Šimleša et al. Results: The current study showed how the new components found through reflection on the environmental contexts of dynamic sports activities better explain the mechanisms by which athletes expe- rience flow. These results expand our knowledge into sport-specific flow aspects originating from differences in-game environments. Conclusion: The current study offers new insights for understanding flow in sports based on new theo- retical frameworks beyond traditional theories such as that of Csikszentmihalyi.

Keywords: Flow, IPO model, Cognitive process, Soccer, Golf

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