The Dark Side of Flow: A Qualitative Study of Dependence in Big Wave Surfing

Partington, Sarah; Partington, Elizabeth; Olivier, Steve

doi:10.1123/tsp.23.2.170

Cited by 87 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(39 reference statements)

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“…Only researchs on white-water canoeists (Sparkes & Partington, 2003) or big-wave surfers (Partington, Partington, & Olivier, 2009) have analyzed flow in conditions in which the athlete does not have control over the task or in which the requirement level of the task exceeds his/her ability. In the context of studies of firefighters, it is worth highlighting Chen-Lin's recent work (2014), which concludes that flow state has a positive influence on work satisfaction in volunteer firefighters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flow in Firefighters and Its Relationship With Performance in High-Risk Tasks: Preliminar Research

Vega

García

Ruíz-Barquín

et al. 2015

PSYCHOLOGIA -An International Journal of Psychological Sciences

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Flow is an operational mental state in which people is fully immersed in a performed activity. The aim of this study was to measure in professional firefighters flow and its relationship with performance in tasks with a high risk component. The state of flow was assessed by the Flow State Scale (FSS) in six professional firefighters during a simulation of a traffic accident (STA), together with their expected and perceived performance. Results indicated that firefighters reached high levels of flow during their work performance in risky tasks potentially generating high levels of stress.Adequate performance values and a positive correlation between flow and expected or perceived performance were obtained. Quantitative results were complemented by qualitative interviews after STA. Data obtained emphasize the relevance of flow study in those professions involving conditions of high risk.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flow in Firefighters and Its Relationship With Performance in High-Risk Tasks: Preliminar Research

Vega

García

Ruíz-Barquín

et al. 2015

PSYCHOLOGIA -An International Journal of Psychological Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As mentioned above, Farmer (1992) found that vertigo, which may include feelings of self-transcendence or loss of self, was the main motivating factor for surfing. Partington et al (2009) found that big wave surfers craved the flow states they experienced, which include a heightened sense of focus and self-awareness.…”

Section: Surfing and Spiritualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During a flow state, the individual is said to be living completely in the moment and has a narrowed, intense focus on the activity at hand (Csikszentmihalyi, 1975). Partington et al (2009) investigated the flow experiences of "big wave" surfers and found that they reported improved mood states, better surfing performance, and higher self-esteem and fulfillment as a result of these experiences. Surfers also reported an "addiction" to these feelings which led to their continued involvement in big wave surfing regardless of family commitments, potential injuries, or even potential death (Partington, et al, 2009).…”

Section: Psychological Correlates Of Surfingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Surfers have described having experiences with and becoming dependent on flow states that occur during surfing (Partington, Partington, & Olivier, 2009). Csikszentmihalyi (1975) describes flow as an optimal state of experience in which an individual feels a sense of complete 8 control as well as a fusion between self and environment.…”

Section: Psychological Correlates Of Surfingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a substantial amount of anecdotal evidence exists to suggest that surfers experience something unique, which cannot be fully described by peak or flow experiences. Surfers are willing to risk serious injury or death in order to reach the fulfillment surfing offers (Partington et al, 2009). In his article, "Is God a Goofyfoot?"…”

Section: Psychological Correlates Of Surfingmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Spirituality, Depression, and Anxiety Among Ocean Surfers

Amrhein

Barkhoff

Heiby

2016

Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology

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Although research on the psychological correlates of ocean surfing is scarce, substantial anecdotal evidence suggests that the sport offers a uniquely positive experience for surfers. Prior research has demonstrated that surfers report fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety than the general population, but no explanation for these findings has been identified (Levin & Taylor, 2011). Greater spirituality has been correlated with lower depression and anxiety, and many surfers have described surfing as a spiritual experience, indicating a potential connection between surfing and spirituality. The current study had several goals. The first goal was to partially replicate previous findings that surfers in California report less depressive and anxiety symptoms than the general population with a more geographically diverse sample of surfers (Levin & Taylor, 2011). The second goal was to determine whether a geographically diverse group of surfers report a higher level of spirituality than the general population. The third goal of this study was to determine whether spirituality is related to depression and anxiety in this sample of surfers. The fourth goal was to determine whether the surfing experience is related to general spirituality. The fifth and final goal of this study was to determine whether the surfing experience is related to levels of depression and anxiety. One hundred surfers were recruited from the Hawaiian Islands and the Mid-Atlantic region of the East Coast. Participants were asked to complete a survey consisting of a consent form, a demographics questionnaire, the Spirituality Assessment Scale (SAS; Howden, 1992), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II; Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI; Beck & Steer, 1993). The demographics questionnaire was used for descriptive purposes as well as an estimate for surfingspecific spiritual experiences. Scores on the SAS, BDI-II, and BAI were compared to available cutoff scores for each measure to provide a preliminary interpretation of the sample's scores.iii Independent samples t-tests were also conducted to compare the scores on the SAS, BDI-II, and BAI with comparative normative groups. Correlational analyses on the scores of these measures were also computed to determine the relationship between reported levels of spirituality and the reported levels of depression and anxiety. Correlational analyses were also conducted to determine if any relationships existed between the surfing experience and spirituality, depression, and anxiety. Results of these analyses indicate that surfers from the Hawaiian Islands and the East Coast report fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety than most available comparative normative groups. Results also indicate that a relationship exists between reported greater levels of spirituality and reported lower levels of depressive symptomatology. Finally, the results show that a significant relationship exists between the surfing experience and reported levels of spirituality. The importance and ...

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Advancing the association for humanistic counseling principles through the serious leisure perspective

Dieser

2023

J Humanistic Counseling

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The serious leisure perspective (SLP) aligns with humanistic counseling principles. A most significant professional implication is that humanistic counselors can create optimal leisure lifestyle strategies linked to the AHC principles of discovering meaning and purpose, developing deep connections with people and nature, moving toward growth and change, maintaining a holistic approach to humanity, and developing creativity. Future research implications and practical steps that humanistic counselors can use in professional practice to connect the SLP to humanistic counseling principles are elucidated.

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The Dark Side of Flow: A Qualitative Study of Dependence in Big Wave Surfing

Abstract: (2009) The dark side of flow: a qualitative study on dependence in big wave surfing. Sports Psychologist, 23 (2). pp.

Cited by 87 publications

References 22 publications

Flow in Firefighters and Its Relationship With Performance in High-Risk Tasks: Preliminar Research

Flow in Firefighters and Its Relationship With Performance in High-Risk Tasks: Preliminar Research

Spirituality, Depression, and Anxiety Among Ocean Surfers

Advancing the association for humanistic counseling principles through the serious leisure perspective

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