Living well by “flowing’ well: The indirect effect of autotelic personality on well-being through flow experience

Abstract

One way to achieve a high level of well-being is by engaging in and enjoying everyday activities. Research has unveiled seven personal attributes (autotelic personality, collectively) that facilitate such engagement and enjoyment. We hypothesized that flow experience—a state of deep engagement and enjoyment—accounts for the positive relationship between autotelic personality and well-being. Study 1 participants (N = 393) completed a one-time survey that measured autotelic personality, proneness to experiencing flow, and well-being (satisfaction with life and flourishing). A subsample of Study 1 participants (N = 127) participated in Study 2, a 10-day diary study, that examined their daily flow experience and daily well-being (affect and flourishing). As hypothesized, both studies revealed an indirect, positive effect of autotelic personality on well-being through flow experience, elucidating a pathway toward a good life through deep engagement.

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