Experiencing flow in a workplace physical activity intervention for female health care workers: A longitudinal comparison between football and zumba

TY - JOUR

T1 - Experiencing flow in a workplace physical activity intervention for female health care workers

T2 - A longitudinal comparison between football and zumba

AU - Elbe, Anne-Marie

AU - Barene, Svein

AU - Strahler, Katharina

AU - Krustrup, Peter

AU - Holtermann, Andreas

N1 - CURIS 2016 NEXS 125

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - Flow is a rewarding psychological state that motivates individuals to repeat activities. This study explored healthcare workers’ flow experiences during a workplace exercise intervention. Seventy-nine females were assigned to either a 12-week football or Zumba exercise intervention and their flow experiences were assessed at the beginning, midway and at the end of the intervention. The results showed that both intervention groups experienced medium levels of flow and an increase in flow values over time. A significant positive correlation between experiencing flow midway through the intervention and adherence to regular physical activity 18 weeks after the end of the intervention was found. Furthermore, repeated measures throughout the intervention period showed a significantly different development of flow values over time for the adherers and nonadherers. Flow therefore may be of importance for adherence to regular workplace physical activity. Future research needs to investigate the importance of flow in other physical activity settings, especially also for male participants.

AB - Flow is a rewarding psychological state that motivates individuals to repeat activities. This study explored healthcare workers’ flow experiences during a workplace exercise intervention. Seventy-nine females were assigned to either a 12-week football or Zumba exercise intervention and their flow experiences were assessed at the beginning, midway and at the end of the intervention. The results showed that both intervention groups experienced medium levels of flow and an increase in flow values over time. A significant positive correlation between experiencing flow midway through the intervention and adherence to regular physical activity 18 weeks after the end of the intervention was found. Furthermore, repeated measures throughout the intervention period showed a significantly different development of flow values over time for the adherers and nonadherers. Flow therefore may be of importance for adherence to regular workplace physical activity. Future research needs to investigate the importance of flow in other physical activity settings, especially also for male participants.

U2 - 10.1123/wspaj.2015-0011

DO - 10.1123/wspaj.2015-0011

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1063-6161

VL - 24

SP - 70

EP - 77

JO - Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal

JF - Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal

IS - 1

ER -