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Differential motivational pathways to flow experience in competitive sailing
1Department of Recreational Sport, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung, Taiwan.
Frontiers in Psychology
|May 25, 2026
Summary
In competitive sailing, competition and novelty motivations enhance flow experience, while relaxation motivation hinders it. Understanding these motivational drivers is key for optimizing performance in maritime sports.
Area of Science:
- Sport Psychology
- Performance Psychology
- Maritime Sport Science
Background:
- Motivational orientations are crucial for flow experience, especially in demanding competitive environments.
- Limited research exists on how specific motivations impact flow in sailing regattas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between participation motivations and flow experience in competitive sailing regatta participants.
- To analyze how different motivational orientations influence concentration, perceived control, and time distortion during sailing competitions.
Main Methods:
- Collected data from 192 competitive sailors with recent regatta experience.
- Utilized partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) for data analysis.
- Operationalized flow experience through concentration, perceived control, and time distortion.
Main Results:
- Competition and novelty-exploration motivations positively influenced all flow dimensions.
- Relaxation motivation negatively impacted concentration, perceived control, and time distortion.
- Challenge motivation showed no significant direct effect, suggesting normalization in competitive sailing.
Conclusions:
- Motivational influences on flow are context-dependent in competitive sailing.
- Achievement and novelty motivations foster optimal engagement, while relaxation motives are incompatible with competitive demands.
- Findings offer insights for sport management, event design, and participant segmentation in maritime sports.
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