Flow and the Five-Factor Model (FFM) of Personality Characteristic

Abstract

Flow is an area that has had a flourish of research emerge within the past couple of decades originating in the sport psychology literature (Jackson & Eklund, 2006; Hefferon & Ollis, 2006; Kee & Wang, 2008) and in a multitude of other areas of study since such as academics, creativity, motivation, and gaming (Cermakova, Moneta, & Spada, 2010; Fritz & Avsec, 2007; Fullagar & Mills, 2008; Jin, 2011; Lee, 2005). Presently, the study of flow has arisen in the area of personality and the individual characteristics that contribute to one’s personality (Ullén, et al., 2012). The purpose of the current study was to provide the beginning investigation into flow and personality characteristics (as represented by the Five-Factor Model of Personality) to offer insight into dispositional flow and the autotelic personality. Additionally, the purpose of this study was to improve on the limitations that were presented in Ullén and colleagues’ (2012) and Ross and Keiser’s (2014) studies. The sample consisted of 409 English-speaking adults who completed the study measures online. Results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated relationships between dispositional flow and four of the five personality factor. Specifically, results revealed positive relationships between dispositional flow and the following personality factors: extraversion, openness to experience, and conscientiousness. These relationships suggest that individuals higher in these personality traits may have a greater disposition to experience flow. Results revealed an inverse relationship between dispositional flow and neuroticism suggesting that neurotic tendencies may possibly hinder an individual’s disposition to experience flow. Furthermore, the present study improved upon the limitations of the current studies by providing a larger, more heterogeneous sample that aligned more closely with the normative sample of the measurements and utilized valid and reliable measurements for dispositional flow and personality. The present findings highlight the complex and multi-dimensional relationships that exist between dispositional flow and personality characteristics; as well as providing a foundation for future research to continue to explore these relationships. Limitations, future areas of research, and implications are discussed.