Interpreting the Dispositional Flow Scale-2 scores: a pilot study of latent class factor analysis

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sport Science
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Flow characteristics are crucial for engagement in physical activity.
• Understanding individual differences in flow experiences is important for optimizing participation.
• The Dispositional Flow Scale-2 (DFS-2) is a key instrument for measuring these tendencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if the Dispositional Flow Scale-2 (DFS-2) scores can distinguish between individuals who frequently experience flow in physical activity and those who do not.
• To explore the latent structure of flow experiences using advanced statistical methods.

Main Methods:

• A total of 993 participants completed the Japanese version of the DFS-2.
• Latent class factor analysis (LCFA) was employed to analyze the DFS-2 responses.
• Six distinct latent classes were identified based on flow attribute patterns.

Main Results:

• LCFA identified six classes, with distinct patterns of nine flow attributes.
• The top two classes (19.3%) and bottom two classes (13.4%) represented frequent and infrequent flow experiencers, respectively.
• Significant differentiation was observed between individuals with high and low flow experiences.

Conclusions:

• The DFS-2 is a valid tool for differentiating individuals based on their propensity to experience flow during physical activity.
• These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of psychological factors influencing exercise engagement.
• The study validates the use of LCFA in dissecting complex psychological constructs like flow.