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Internal and External Factors Underlying Variations in Adolescents' Daily Optimal Experiences.

Dionísia Tavares1, Teresa Freire1, Susana Faria1

  • 1University of Minho.

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|June 28, 2019
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Adolescents experience optimal moments when they perceive a balance between challenges and skills, feel positive emotions, and can focus effortlessly. These psychological states are key to fostering positive experiences in youth.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Adolescent Development
  • Positive Psychology

Background:

  • Optimal experience, often termed 'flow,' is crucial for well-being.
  • Understanding factors influencing optimal experience in adolescents is vital for development.
  • Previous research has explored flow states, but less is known about momentary experiences in diverse adolescent populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between internal psychological states and contextual features with optimal experience in adolescents.
  • To identify specific internal states (challenge-skill perception, affect, attention) and contextual factors (activity, company) that predict optimal experience.
  • To explore the mediating role of effortless attention and moderating role of activity and company.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the experience sampling method for real-time data collection.
  • Surveyed 245 Portuguese adolescents aged 14-19.
  • Employed multilevel modeling to analyze the associations between variables.

Main Results:

  • Challenge-skill balance and positive affect were positively linked to optimal experience.
  • Negative affect was negatively associated with optimal experience.
  • Effortless attention significantly mediated the relationship between internal states and optimal experience, while activity and company showed limited moderation.

Conclusions:

  • Internal psychological states, particularly challenge-skill balance and positive affect, are strong predictors of optimal experience in adolescents.
  • Effortless attention plays a critical mediating role in achieving optimal experiences.
  • Findings can guide interventions aimed at enhancing adolescent well-being by focusing on psychological states and attention.