Relationship between achievement goals and psychological flow

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between psychological flow and achievement goals. Although both constructs have been studied extensively, only minimal attention has been focused on understanding the relationship between them. Participants completed three surveys, and positive correlations were found between the overall flow experience and performance-approach goals in both academic and athletic contexts. Mastery-approach goals positively correlated with flow in an athletic context. Significant positive correlations were also found between the individual flow factors and achievement goals. Gender differences were also examined. Results from female participants showed positive correlations in the academic context, while results from male participants revealed negative correlations on the loss of self-consciousness factor.