Flow and Self-Presentation in Runners Participating in 5 and 10 Kilometer Road Races

Year 2011, Volume: 2 Issue: 3, 1 - 13, 12.09.2011

Amanda Edwards Robert Eklund

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation is to explore the relationship between flow state and self-presentation in runners. It was hypothesized that Self-presentation will be negatively and moderately correlated with the flow experience. A questionnaire packet containing an informed consent form, a demographic information handout, a Race Flow Scale (Modified DFS-2; Jackson & Eklund, 2002), and the Modified Self-Presentation in Sport Questionnaire (SPSQ; McGowan et al., 2008) was administered to 210 male and female runners. The analyses of this investigation are presented in two subsections: descriptive statistics and correlational analyses (including the results of a canonical correlation). It was found that individuals who experience self-presentational concerns are less likely to attain the state of flow. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

Keywords

Flow, Self-Presentation, Runner

References

• Bohra, K.A., & Pandey, J. (1984). Ingratiation toward strangers, friends, and bosses. doi:10.1080/00224545.1984.9713483. of Social Psychology, 22, 217-222.
• Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Earlbaum Associates.
• Connolly, C.T., & Janelle, C.M. (2003). Attentional strategies in rowing: performance, perceived exertion, and gender considerations. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 15, 195-212.doi:10.1080/10413200305387.
• Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. New York: Harper & Row.
• Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996). Creativity: Flow and the psychology of discovery and invention. New York: Harper Collins.
• Hanin, Y.L. (2000). Emotions in Sport. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
• Jackson, S. (1992). Athletes in flow: A qualitative investigation of flow states in elite figure skaters. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 4, 161-180. doi:10.1080/10413209208406459.
• Jackson, S. (1995). Factors influencing the occurrence of flow state in elite athletes. Journal doi:10.1080/10413209508406962. Applied Sport Psychology, 7, 138-166.
• Jackson, S.A. (1996). Toward a conceptual understanding of the flow experience in elite athletes. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 67, 76-90. PMid:8735997.
• Jackson, S., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1999). Flow in Sports. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
• Jackson, S.A., & Eklund, R.C. (2002). Assessing flow in physical activity: The Flow State Scale-2 and Dispositional Flow Scale-2. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 24, 133-150.
• Jackson, S.A., Kimiecik, J.C, Ford, S., & Marsh, H.W. (1998). Psychological correlates of flow in sport. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 20, 358-378.
• James, B., & Collins, D. (1997). Self-presentational sources of competitive stress during performance. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 19, 17-35.
• Leary, M. R. (1995). Self-presentation: Impression management and interpersonal behavior. Boulder, CO: Westview.
• Leary, M.R., & Kowalski, R.M. (1990). Impression management: A literature review and two component model. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 34-47. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.107.1.34.
• Martin, K.A., Leary, M.R., & O’Brien, J. (2001). The role of self-presentation in the health practices of a sample of Irish adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 28, 259-262.doi:10.1016/S1054-139X(00)00209-3.
• Martens, R. (1977). Sport competition anxiety test. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
• Masters, K., & Ogles, B. (1998). Associative and dissociative cognitive strategies in exercise and running 20 years later: What do we know? Sport Psychologist, 12, 253-270.
• McGowan, E., Prapavessis, H., & Welch, N. (2008). Self-presentational concerns and competitive anxiety. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 30, 383-401. PMid:18648111.
• Schlenker, B.R., & Weigold, M.F. (1992). Interpersonal processes involving impression regulation and management. Annual Review of Psychology, 43, 133- 168.doi:10.1146/annurev.ps.43.020192.001025.
• Schlenker, B.R., & Leary, M.R. (1982). Social anxiety and self-presentation: A conceptualization and model. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.92.3.641.
• Psychological Bulletin, 92, 641-669.
• Schneider, D.J. (1969). Tactical self-presentation after success and failure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 13, 262-268.doi:10.1037/h0028280.
• Schomer, H.H. (1987). Mental strategy training programme for marathon runners. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 18, 133-151.
• Tabachnick, B.G., & Fidell, L.S. (2007). Using Multivariate Statistics. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
• Wilson, P., & Eklund, R.C. (1998). The relationship between competitive anxiety and self-presentational concerns. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 20, 81- 97.