Enduring Involvement, Situational Involvement, and Flow in Leisure and Non-leisure Activities

Abstract

This research was conducted to investigate relationships between enduring involvement (EI), situational involvement (SI), and flow. It was hypothesized that the constructs would be related and that SI would mediate relationships between EI and flow. In addition, the relationships were examined in both leisure and non-leisure contexts. The sample consisted of 46 recently unemployed adults, diverse with respect to gender, age, pre-unemployment income, and education. Respondents completed a number of experiential sampling forms (ESF) as part of a larger study. Flow and SI were measured at this time. Three months later respondents completed EI scales related to 2 leisure and 2 nonleisure activities for which they had completed ESFs. Structural equation modeling suggested that in both leisure and non-leisure activities participants with higher levels of EI were more likely to experience higher levels of flow (p <.05) and that SI mediated these relationships. This study is the first to establish links between EI, SI, and flow.

KEYWORDS:

• Enduring (ego) involvement
• situational involvement
• flow