Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Applied Psychology
Committee Chair/Advisor
Jody Nicholson
Committee Member
Heidi Zinzow
Committee Member
Robert Sinclair
Abstract
Flow is defined as a state of optimal experience characterized by deep focus and total absorption that has been consistently linked to enhanced performance (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990; Jackson and Csikszentmihalyi, 1999). Mindfulness, defined as present-moment awareness with acceptance and nonjudgement, has been widely used in sport psychology interventions to improve both performance and well-being (Harris et al., 2023; Kabat-Zinn, 2015; Reive, 2019). However, less is known about how and why mindfulness contributes to performance outcomes and what role flow plays. This study examined the relationship between trait mindfulness and dispositional flow among Clemson University collegiate athletes (N=144), while exploring differences across sex, academic level, and performance type (group vs. solo sports). The survey consisted of demographics, mindfulness practice usage, the Athlete Mindfulness Questionnaire (AMQ) (Zhang et al., 2017), and the Short Dispositional Flow Scale-2 (SDFS-2) (Jackson et al., 2008). Results indicated that higher levels of trait mindfulness were associated with higher dispositional flow across athletes (r = .76; p < .001; b = .76; R2 = .58). Similar patterns of mindfulness practice engagement and flow levels were observed between group and solo performance athletes. Differences emerged across sex and academic level, with males reporting slightly higher flow scores than females and older athletes demonstrating a stronger mindfulness to flow relationship. Performance type (p < .001) and academic level (p < .01) significantly moderated the relationship between mindfulness and flow; sex (p = .11) was not significant. Across the sample, the most endorsed mindfulness practices included breathing exercises, visualization, journaling, gratitude practices, and meditation. These findings suggest that trait mindfulness is a meaningful predictor of dispositional flow and highlight the importance of considering interindividual athlete characteristics when integrating mindfulness-based interventions in sport.
Recommended Citation
Torres, Kelly, "How Mindfulness Influences the Frequency of Flow in Collegiate Athletes" (2026). All Theses. 4746.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4746