Personality predictors of flow among adolescents

Pages: 218-226
Narayanan Annalakshmi (Department of Psychology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu )
Elsa Kappan (Department of Psychology, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, Karnataka )
Barani Vidya (School Counselor, Vivekananda Vidyalaya Senior Secondary School, Chennai, Tamil Nadu )

Flow is said to be associated with an enhancement in positive emotions and a reduction in negative emotions, and can potentially improve well-being. Flow, i.e., the optimal experience can be beneficial to mental health and productivity. This could be exceptionally important to adolescents who are constantly confronted with constant demands on adjustment owing to their developmental stage. The present study examines the personality predictors of flow among adolescents. The participants of this study include a sample of 200 adolescents from Kerala and Tamil Nadu (Males=100, Females=100) in the age group 13 to 17 years. The participants responded to a set of selfreport measures that assessed their personality, flow state, flow experience, and dispositional flow. A One-Way ANOVA was used to examine if there was any significant difference between genders on HEXACO personality traits and flow. Additionally, multiple regression was used to identify the personality traits that predict the flow experience. ANOVA comparing gender on personality and flow found that females were higher on HonestyHumility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience and also was higher on flow state, dispositional flow, and overall flow experience. The result from multiple regression showed that Extraversion was a positive predictor of overall flow experience, flow state, and dispositional flow and personality traits like Honesty-Humility, Conscientiousness, Openness to Experience were positive predictors of flow state. Openness to Experience and Honesty-Humility predicted dispositional flow positively. The practical and research implications of the findings of the present study for positive psychology interventions are discussed.