Latent variable modelling of the relationship between flow and exercise-induced feelings: An intuitive appraisal perspective

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between self-reported levels of flow and the post-exercise feelings of positive engagement, revitalization, tranquillity and physical exhaustion using responses from 1231 aerobic dance exercise participants. Vallerand’s intuitive-reflective appraisal model of self-related affect and Csikszentmihalyi’s conceptual framework for optimal experience served as the guiding theoretical frameworks. It was hypothesized that self-reported flow would be positively associated with revitalization, tranquillity and positive engagement, while statistical independence was expected for physical exhaustion. First, participants completed the Flow State Scale and, second, the Exercise-induced Feeling Inventory, immediately after an aerobic dance exercise class. Latent variable analyses showed that the higher-order flow factor was positively associated with post-exercise positive engagement, revitalization and tranquillity, but not with physical exhaustion. Flow state explained 35 percent of the variance in positive engagement, 31 percent of the variance in revitalization and 22 percent of the variance in tranquillity. It is concluded that self-reported flow in aerobic dance exercise is moderately associated with the experience of positive post-exercise feelings. Physicaleducators may wish to employ interventions to facilitate the flow experience during lessons that involve structured exercise.