Exploring runners’ perspectives of potential strategies for flow interventions

Abstract

Flow is an intrinsically rewarding psychological state characterized by effortlessness, absorption, and feelings of automaticity, that is associated with numerous beneficial outcomes for athletes (e.g., performance, motivation, wellbeing). Many studies have attempted to induce flow through interventions, however, with minimal success, perhaps due to a lack of consultation with end-users regarding appropriate strategies. Therefore, this study sought to examine runners’ perspectives on potential strategies that should be considered during the development of flow interventions. Fourteen athletes (M_age = 32.71; SD = 7.22) participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, which generated four categories with themes relating to factors that cause and inhibit the occurrence of flow within each category. Specifically, these runners suggested that flow interventions should: (i) create an exploratory or novel context; (ii) set open-ended goals; (iii) provide feedback that exceeds expectations; and (iv) ensure that attention is process-focused or directed toward pleasant aspects of the run. Moreover, runners suggested that certain strategies may inhibit the experience of flow: (i) evaluative contexts; (ii) setting specific goals; (iii) delivering quantitative feedback; and (iv) focusing on disruptive stimuli and bodily sensations. The findings of this study provide researchers with detailed end-user perspectives of strategies that may inform the development of flow interventions, and in turn, increase the likelihood of their efficacy.

 Lay summary: The immersive, motivating, and effortless psychological state of “flow” has numerous benefits for athletes and exercisers (e.g., improved performance and wellbeing). This study interviewed runners to understand their perspectives on factors involved in the occurrence of flow, and how they relate to potential intervention strategies. Through the exploration of these factors, the findings indicate that those developing flow interventions should consider lowering the perceived demands and expectations of the activity, open-ended goal setting strategies, the delivery of feedback implying performance is better than expected, and to direct attention toward process-related distractions.

 

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

• Runners indicated that various psychological contexts, goal setting strategies, feedback, and attentional focus can cause or inhibit flow states. Athletes, coaches, and practitioners should consider creating novelty or removing specific performance demands (e.g., running a new route, terrain, or distance that is devoid of clear expectations), setting open-ended goals, avoiding quantitative feedback, and focusing on process-related stimuli when attempting to experience flow during sport and exercise.

• Consulting with end-users during intervention development increases the likelihood of their efficacy. Hence, this study provides a range of considerations to improve flow intervention development and subsequent efficacy.

Notes

1 Csikszentmihalyi’s (1975) nine dimension conceptualisation of flow typically consists of: (i) challenge-skills balance; (ii) clear goals; (iii) unambiguous feedback; (iv) concentration on the task at hand; (v) sense of control; (vi) loss of self-consciousness; (vii) action-awareness merging; (viii) transformation of time; and (ix) autotelic experience.

2 There is no definitive timeframe for collecting ‘event-focused’ interview data (Jackman, Schweickle, et al., 2021). A cut off of two weeks was used in this study to delineate between event-focused and career-based interviews.

3 The only difference between interview schedules was the recency and/or number of flow experiences the participant reflected upon during the interview (i.e., event-focused - one recent flow experience, career-based - one or multiple flow experiences occurring anytime in the past).

4 The interviewer proposed intervention strategies based on the determinants of flow outlined by the Integrated Model, or participants’ perceptions of factors leading to their flow experience. For example, if a participant indicated that running without a watch was a key factor leading to their flow experience, the interviewer followed this up by asking if removing quantitative feedback could effectively replicate this during an intervention.