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The Longitudinal Effects of a Mindfulness Intervention on Daily Flow Experience and Autotelic Personality

IDA alumnus Liam Wells presented his Master thesis at the graduation ceremony of the IDA cohort 2022-2024.

Flow refers to a state of mind of effortless, highly efficient, and pleasurable engagement in an activity. At the trait level, autotelic personality encapsulates an individual with a disposition towards experiencing flow. Mindfulness is one phenomenon which has been researched as an intervention for flow. Mindfulness can be described as a state of non-judgemental, present awareness. It has been linked to flow in various aspects of their operationalisation, and has been shown to be associated with state flow and autotelic personality, however interventions of mindfulness on flow have mixed efficacy partly due to issues in operationalising flow and flawed intervention design. This study takes an Experience Sampling Methodology (ESM) approach to investigate the effect of a mindfulness intervention on flow and autotelic personality, whilst taking precautions and recommendations on operationalising flow and designing a mindfulness intervention. It was hypothesised that the intervention would result in gradual increases in flow outcomes when compared to baseline, and increases of autotelic personality at post-intervention and follow-up time points. Results showed that the intervention did not produce changes in flow outcomes, and autotelic personality only increased at the follow-up timepoint. However, flow outcomes did increase throughout the whole ESM period where participants responded to daily questionnaires. This project has contributed to literature in its novel approach and analysis of daily flow changes and autotelic personality, whilst also discussing relevant implications in the response processes of ESM and intervention design.

Keywords: flow, mindfulness, autotelic personality, mindfulness intervention, Experience Sampling Methodology, response processes

Congratulations Liam and best of luck with your future career!

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