Correlates of dispositional flow and emotional intelligence: an exploratory study with ballet dancers

ABSTRACT

This work explored the dynamics of trait emotional intelligence (EI) and dispositional flow in a sample of ballet dancers since research on these topics is scarce in the artistic domain. This study analyses whether EI correlates and predicts flow experiences and whether dancers’ experience influences their levels of EI and flow. One hundred and fifty-two Portuguese ballet dancers, mostly females (90.7%), aged 15–18 years-old (69.7%), and students (87.4%), answered the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire – Short Form (TEIQue SF), Dispositional Flow Scale (DFS2), a dance practice questionnaire and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The results confirmed the positive correlation between trait EI and flow (r = .43) and the predictive effect of dancers’ trait EI on their flow experiences (ß = .43). Moreover, differences on dancer’s trait EI and flow were found according to their experience. This study corroborates previous associations and reinforces research in the artistic domain as a privileged context of optimal human achievement.

KEYWORDS:

• Positive psychology
• emotional intelligence
• dispositional flow
• ballet
• experience

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Center for Psychology at the University of Porto (UIDB/00050/2020) and the Portuguese Science Foundation (Postdoctoral Grant awarded to Ana Costa and supervised by Luísa Faria SFRH/BPD/117479/2016).

Notes on contributors

Ana Costa

Ana Costa is currently a PhD researcher in the field of Psychology at Portuguese Catholic University. She has been particularly interested in exploring the relevance of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and social-emotional competences in the academic context, namely EI’s impact on positive outcomes, assessment and developmental trajectories. She has also collaborated as a researcher in different other projects in the field of Education and authored publications directed to scientific and general public.

Alexandra Martins

Alexandra Carneiro Martins has a master degree in Deviant Behavior and Justice Psychology by the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences of University of Porto. She has a particular research interest in the field of dance practice and on the influence of altered mental states on recreational activities. As a trainee in Deviant Behavior and Justice Psychology, she has co-authored a number of articles that range from the areas of qualitative research in public health to harm reduction in drug use contexts.

Luísa Faria

Luísa Faria is a Full Professor of Psychology at Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences of University of Porto. She has been based there since 1986, and lectures in the field of Motivational Psychology and Individual Differences. She has been involved in Research & Development Projects on pupils’ personal conceptions of intelligence, academic achievement, and emotional intelligence. She is the author of numerous books, chapters, reports and articles, in national and international journals, on Motivation, Intelligence and Psychological Evaluation.