Flow is a positive and optimal state of mind, during which people are highly motivated and absorbed in the activity they are doing. It is an experience that can occur in any area of life. One of the measurement instruments which is most commonly used to evaluate this construct is the Flow State Scale-2 (FSS-2). This instrument has been used in different languages, mainly in the field of sport. In this research work, the FSS-2 has been translated into Spanish and administered to 486 musicians from different regions of Spain in order to examine the psychometric properties. A version which uses six dimensions from the original questionnaire has been used-those that constitute the experience of flow-and four alternative models have been analysed (Six related factors model, two second order factor models and a bifactor model).The results revealed that the dimension time could be controversial and more research could be needed. In general terms, the six-factor model (RMSEA = .04; GFI = .99; AGFI = .99) and a second-factor one (RMSEA = .033; GFI = .99; AGFI = .99) are solutions consistent with previous studies and show that the questionnaire can be considered a reliable (Alphas of the dimensions range from .81 to .94; Omegas from .86 to .97; and mean discrimination of the dimensions from .64 to .88) and useful tool, both in clinical and educational contexts, as well as an instrument for the evaluation of this construct in future research. However, the results of this study also suggest that flow can be explored in greater depth in musicians, taking into account that the writing of the original items was based on the experience of athletes and that the role of time in flow needs to be investigated.

Resumen: El objetivo de esta investigación era desarrollar un instrumento en español, que fuera completo y adecuado psicométricamente, para la medida del estado psicológico de los corredores de maratón durante los días y horas previos a la carrera. En el estudio 1 participaron 1060 corredores aficionados de 18 a 57 años. El análisis factorial exploratorio mostró cinco dimensiones que reflejaban motivación, autoconfianza, ansiedad, percepción del estado físico y apoyo social percibido. En dos estudios posteriores se examinaron las propiedades psicométricas de una versión depurada de esta medida. En el estudio 2 completaron el cuestionario 801 corredores aficionados (17-63 años) de una muestra independiente. El análisis factorial confirmatorio con modelos alternativos apoyó un modelo de seis factores. La consistencia interna fue de .72 a .90. En apoyo de la validez de constructo, la escala de auto-confianza correlacionó positivamente con la percepción del estado físico, la escala de motivación correlacionó positivamente con el apoyo social y la auto-confianza, y la ansiedad correlacionó negativamente con los factores motivación y auto-confianza. En el estudio 3, una muestra independiente de 22 corredores aficionados (28-47 años) cumplimentaron los cuestionarios PODIUM y MOMS. Adicionalmente, otra muestra independiente de 36 corredores aficionados (23-57 años) cumplimentaron el PODIUM y el CSAI-2. En apoyo de la validez concurrente del PODIUM, la escala de motivación correlacionaba con el MOMS, y las escalas de ansiedad y auto-confianza correlacionaban con el CSAI-2.

Positive Psychology has turned its attention to the study of emotions in a scientific and rigorous way. Particularly, to how emotions influence people’s health, performance, or their overall life satisfaction. Within this trend, Flow theory has established a theoretical framework that helps to promote the Flow experience. Flow state, or optimal experience, is a mental state of high concentration and enjoyment that, due to its characteristics, has been considered desirable for the development of the performing activity of performing musicians. Musicians are a population prone to health problems, both psychological and physical, owing to different stressors of their training and professional activity. One of the most common problems is Musical Performance Anxiety. In this investigation, an electronic intervention program was carried out for the development of psychological self-regulation skills whose main objective was to trigger the Flow response in performing musicians and the coping mechanism for Musical Performance Anxiety. A quasi-experimental design was used with a control group in which pre- and post-measures of Flow State, Musical Performance Anxiety and, also, Social Skills were taken. Sixty-two performing musicians from different music colleges in Spain participated in the program. Results indicated that the intervention significantly improved Flow State (t = –2.41, p = 0.02, d = 0.36), and Sense of Control (t = –2.48, p = 0.02, d = 0.47), and decreased Music Performance Anxiety (t = 2.64, p = 0.01, d = 0.24), and self-consciousness (t = –3.66, p = 0.00, d = 0.70) of the participants in the EG but not CG. The changes in the EG after the program showed the inverse relationship between Flow and Anxiety. Two important theoretical factors of both variables (especially in situations of performance and public exposure), such as worry and the feeling of lack of control, could be involved. The results are under discussion and future lines of research are proposed.

Resumen: El objetivo del estudio fue conocer si tres tipos de acciones de promoción de la salud sexual, dirigidas a mujeres adultas, presentaban efectos positivos sobre los conocimientos sexuales y las actitudes sexuales saludables. Se seleccionaron dos muestras, una de 22 mujeres (M = 32.95 años y DT = 7.6), a las que se evaluó antes y después de asistir a una reunión tuppersex y otra de 1019 mujeres (M = 33.09 años y DT = 9.52). Las participantes contestaron a la misma encuesta por Internet sobre "Opiniones y conocimientos en relación a la sexualidad". Los resultados mostraron que las tres variables estudiadas (educación sexual, información sexual en los medios de comunicación, y reuniones tuppersex) presentaban una relación positiva con las actitudes sexuales saludables y con los conocimientos sexuales de las mujeres. Palabras clave: Salud sexual; educación sexual; juguete sexual; actitudes sexuales; tuppersex; promoción de la salud sexual. The promotion of sexual health in informal contexts and its relation with sexual knowledge and attitudes of women

This study has two objectives: to validate an adapted online version of the Psychological State Test (TEP, in its Spanish acronym); and to assess differences in pre-competitive psychological state profiles between amateur and professional athletes in team sports. The TEP questionnaire is an instrument which is used to assess, in a quick and simple fashion, the psychological state of athletes prior to competing. Its psychometric properties were evaluated by means of an analysis of internal consistency, an Exploratory Factor Analysis and a Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The EFA's results showed a factorial structure consisting of two principal factors and reliability coefficients, both globally and at the factor level, which can be considered acceptable (global α = 0.81; Factor 1 α = 0.85; and Factor 2 α = 0.73). The CFA confirmed the model proposed by the EFA so that the items were distributed around these factors, giving rise to one factor which includes variables that have a positive relationship with performance, and another with variables that negatively affect performance. Meanwhile, regarding the difference between the pre-competitive psychological state of amateurs and professionals, professional athletes presented higher levels of Motivation (p = 0.5 and d = −0.23). It is concluded that the TEP is a suitable tool for the evaluation of pre-competitive psychological states. However, in future research, this study should be complemented by analyzing the TEP's predictive validity in terms of the performance of athletes and/or teams, as well as its use as a tool available to athletes and coaches.