TY - JOUR
T1 - A review and extension of the flow experience concept. Insights and directions for Tourism research
AU - Matos, Nelson Manuel da Silva de
AU - Sá, Elisabete Sampaio de
AU - Duarte, Paulo Alexandre de Oliveira
N1 - Funding Information:
This paper is financed by National Funds provided by FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology, through project Ref. UIDB/04020/2020. The authors would like to thank to NECE – Research Unit in Business Sciences funded by the Multiannual Funding Programme of R&D Centres of FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Foundation for Science and Technology), under the project UIDB/04630/2020.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2021/4
Y1 - 2021/4
N2 - The flourishing positive psychology field has Flow as a core construct. This systematic review of 185 articles examines Flow's concept, to analyse it theoretically, methodologically, empirically, and to provide an agenda for Tourism research. This paper adds to the knowledge in tourism psychology by exploring the Flow framework's core elements, incorporating its drivers, processes and outcomes, as an instrument to improve tourists' experiences. The study suggests the relevance of considering the tourist's characteristics and both the positive and negative outcomes of the Flow experience and other concepts, such as immersion or cognitive stimulation. Extant studies often use the Flow state scale as a measurement tool, but new opportunities are offered by using physiology instruments. Several propositions are put forth to foster the investigation on Flow in the tourism field, and to further the understanding of the tourists' behaviour and experience.
AB - The flourishing positive psychology field has Flow as a core construct. This systematic review of 185 articles examines Flow's concept, to analyse it theoretically, methodologically, empirically, and to provide an agenda for Tourism research. This paper adds to the knowledge in tourism psychology by exploring the Flow framework's core elements, incorporating its drivers, processes and outcomes, as an instrument to improve tourists' experiences. The study suggests the relevance of considering the tourist's characteristics and both the positive and negative outcomes of the Flow experience and other concepts, such as immersion or cognitive stimulation. Extant studies often use the Flow state scale as a measurement tool, but new opportunities are offered by using physiology instruments. Several propositions are put forth to foster the investigation on Flow in the tourism field, and to further the understanding of the tourists' behaviour and experience.
KW - Customer experience
KW - Experience flow
KW - Experience flow gaps
KW - Systematic literature review
KW - Tourism experience
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103776104&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tmp.2021.100802
DO - 10.1016/j.tmp.2021.100802
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85103776104
SN - 2211-9736
VL - 38
JO - Tourism Management Perspectives
JF - Tourism Management Perspectives
M1 - 100802
ER -