The Relationship Between Personality and Flow: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Objective This meta-analysis explores the relationship between Big Five personality traits and flow. It also examines the moderating roles of demographic factors (i.e., gender and age), cultural differences, contextual variations, flow dimensions, and the instruments used to assess personality and flow.

Method A systematic search was conducted across ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Science, identifying 24 eligible studies reporting associations between Big Five traits and flow. A total of 352 effect sizes were analyzed using a three-level random-effects model. Moderator analyses examined the influence of demographic, cultural, contextual, and methodological factors.

Results Results reveal a medium-sized positive association between Conscientiousness and flow (r = 0.33), while Extraversion (r = 0.25), Openness (r = 0.18), and Agreeableness (r = 0.16) show smaller positive relationships. Neuroticism has a small negative relationship with flow (r = −0.16). Significant moderating effects were identified for culture, with stronger correlations in Eastern cultures for Extraversion, Openness, and Agreeableness.

Conclusions These findings emphasize the importance of considering personality traits when studying flow. Future research should expand cross-cultural studies, explore flow across a broader range of contexts, incorporate multimodal measurement techniques, and develop interventions that enhance flow experiences by aligning them with individuals' personality profiles and contextual characteristics.