Flow-Experience in Old Age: An Investigation of Influencing Factors and Therapy Benefits for Geriatric Patients
Wunner C, Hesel J, Stemmler M, Gosch M, Waller C (2022)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2022
Journal
DOI: 10.1055/a-1718-3982
Abstract
Flow experience, a feeling of being absorbed in an activity without reflection and with maximum depth, has positive effects on psychological and physical well-being, performance, and life satisfaction. Little research has been done on flow experience in old age, and there are no studies on geriatric patients. In the present study, elderly patients (mean age:81.2, SD=5.9) of a day hospital were examined with regard to their flow experience using the flow short scale. In addition to age and gender effects, flow was assessed during two different activities ( physical activity vs. memory training). Furthermore, the role of individual activity and group dynamics as well as correlations between flow and therapy success were examined in detail. The results show that flow experience is possible even in old age. Depressed patients experienced as much flow as non-depressed patients; cognitively impaired patients, on the other hand, experienced less flow than patients without cognitive deficits, and chronic pain patients even reported more flow experiences during exercise programs than patients without pain. A high level of self-activity had an overall positive effect on the flow experience. The therapy outcome could not be influenced by flow. Flow experience in old age should be given more attention, especially in physical activity therapy for pain patients; further correlations, especially with regard to depression, remain to be investigated.
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Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Wunner, C., Hesel, J., Stemmler, M., Gosch, M., & Waller, C. (2022). Flow-Experience in Old Age: An Investigation of Influencing Factors and Therapy Benefits for Geriatric Patients. Psychotherapie Psychosomatik Medizinische Psychologie. https://dx.doi.org/10.1055/a-1718-3982
MLA:
Wunner, Christina, et al. "Flow-Experience in Old Age: An Investigation of Influencing Factors and Therapy Benefits for Geriatric Patients." Psychotherapie Psychosomatik Medizinische Psychologie (2022).
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