Predictors of flow state in performing musicians: an analysis with the logistic regression method.

Introduction: Flow state has been deemed a desirable state for performing musicians given its negative correlations with musical performance anxiety, its relationship to optimal performance, and its possible effect on creativity. In the field of music, there are a few studies that have assessed intervention programmes to promote flow state in performing musicians with varying results in terms of their success. The flow condition-experience model proposes three components that would be the conditions for flow state to occur and six components that describe the experience of being in a flow state. In addition, within the vast academic literature on this experience, other factors that could influence its occurrence have been proposed. The main objective of this research was to detect which are the most suitable predictors from a set of independent variables collected to distinguish performing musicians with a high flow level. Methods: A binary logistic regression analysis was carried out with data from 163 musicians aged between 18 and 65. Independent variables were introduced in the analysis: skill-challenge balance, clear goals and clear feedback (condition-experience model); and also, gender, age, dedication, (musical) style, musical instrument and (performing) situation. Results: The results showed that the three conditions of the condition-experience model and the situation variable had positive associations with flow state. The model explained 78% of the variance of the dependent variable and obtained a 90.8% correct classification rate. Discussion: These variables seem to contribute most to a high flow level, and the importance of keeping in mind the intrinsic reasons why performers dedicate themselves to music is emphasised. The results and their implications for the training of performing musicians are discussed. Future lines of research are proposed, as well as collecting data on personality-related variables to introduce them into the regression model.

Development of Flow State Self-Regulation Skills and Coping With Musical Performance Anxiety: Design and Evaluation of an Electronically Implemented Psychological Program.

Positive Psychology has turned its attention to the study of emotions in a scientific and rigorous way. Particularly, to how emotions influence people's health, performance, or their overall life satisfaction. Within this trend, Flow theory has established a theoretical framework that helps to promote the Flow experience. Flow state, or optimal experience, is a mental state of high concentration and enjoyment that, due to its characteristics, has been considered desirable for the development of the performing activity of performing musicians. Musicians are a population prone to health problems, both psychological and physical, owing to different stressors of their training and professional activity. One of the most common problems is Musical Performance Anxiety. In this investigation, an electronic intervention program was carried out for the development of psychological self-regulation skills whose main objective was to trigger the Flow response in performing musicians and the coping mechanism for Musical Performance Anxiety. A quasi-experimental design was used with a control group in which pre- and post-measures of Flow State, Musical Performance Anxiety and, also, Social Skills were taken. Sixty-two performing musicians from different music colleges in Spain participated in the program. Results indicated that the intervention significantly improved Flow State (t = -2.41, p = 0.02, d = 0.36), and Sense of Control (t = -2.48, p = 0.02, d = 0.47), and decreased Music Performance Anxiety (t = 2.64, p = 0.01, d = 0.24), and self-consciousness (t = -3.66, p = 0.00, d = 0.70) of the participants in the EG but not CG. The changes in the EG after the program showed the inverse relationship between Flow and Anxiety. Two important theoretical factors of both variables (especially in situations of performance and public exposure), such as worry and the feeling of lack of control, could be involved. The results are under discussion and future lines of research are proposed.

Psychometric Properties of the Psychological State Test for Athletes (TEP).

This study has two objectives: to validate an adapted online version of the Psychological State Test (TEP, in its Spanish acronym); and to assess differences in pre-competitive psychological state profiles between amateur and professional athletes in team sports. The TEP questionnaire is an instrument which is used to assess, in a quick and simple fashion, the psychological state of athletes prior to competing. Its psychometric properties were evaluated by means of an analysis of internal consistency, an Exploratory Factor Analysis and a Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The EFA's results showed a factorial structure consisting of two principal factors and reliability coefficients, both globally and at the factor level, which can be considered acceptable (global α = 0.81; Factor 1 α = 0.85; and Factor 2 α = 0.73). The CFA confirmed the model proposed by the EFA so that the items were distributed around these factors, giving rise to one factor which includes variables that have a positive relationship with performance, and another with variables that negatively affect performance. Meanwhile, regarding the difference between the pre-competitive psychological state of amateurs and professionals, professional athletes presented higher levels of Motivation (p = 0.5 and d = -0.23). It is concluded that the TEP is a suitable tool for the evaluation of pre-competitive psychological states. However, in future research, this study should be complemented by analyzing the TEP's predictive validity in terms of the performance of athletes and/or teams, as well as its use as a tool available to athletes and coaches.

Bienestar psicológico, salud general, autonomía percibida y lesiones en futbolistas / Psychological well being, general health perceived autonomy and injuries in soccer players

Dada la preocupación por la práctica deportiva de forma saludable, el objetivo de este estudio es estudiar el nivel de bienestar psicológico eudaimónico (Ryff, 1989ª) y de salud general y emocional, y de averiguar su relación con la autonomía percibida y sus historiales de lesiones deportivas en una población de 85 futbolistas de competición de México. Se ha utilizado la Escala de Bienestar Psicológico, (EBP, Díaz et al., 2006); la Escala de Autonomía Percibida en el Deporte (Balaguer, Castillo y Duda, 2008); la versión española (Sánchez y Dresch, 2008) del 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12, Goldberg y Hillier, 1979), y sus historiales de lesiones (antecedentes y consecuentes) se evaluaron mediante un cuestionario ad hoc derivado del Modelo Global Psicológico de Lesiones Deportivas (Olmedilla y Garcia-Mas, 2009). Los resultados muestran que los futbolistas tienen una mala percepción de salud general y emocional, pero poseen buenos niveles de bienestar psicológico en relación con la autonomía percibida. El número de lesiones -no su duración- se relaciona con la mala percepción de salud general y emocional a la vez que lo hace negativamente con el aspecto volitivo de la autonomía percibida. Los futbolista percibensus lesiones relacionadas con antecedentes psicológicos de estrés y ansiedad competitiva (AU)

Given the concern with the practice of healthy sport activities, the aim of this study is to find what levels of eudaimonic psychological well-being (Ryff, 1989a) and general health, related with their perceived autonomy, and their record of sports injuries in 85 football players in Mexico. We used the Escala de Bienestar Psicológico, EBP, Díaz et al., 2006 to measure psychological well-being. Perceived autonomy was assessed by the Escala de Autonomía Percibida en el Deporte (Balaguer, Castillo and Duda, 2008) and general and emotional health by the Spanish version (Sánchez and Dresch, 2008) of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12, Goldberg and Hillier, 1979). Also, records of injuries were assessed using an ad hoc questionnaire derived from the Global psychological model of sports injuries (Olmedilla and Garcia-Mas, 2009). The results show that players have a bad perception of general and emotional health, but have good levels of psychological well-being in relation to their perceived autonomy. The number of injuries -not their duration- is related to their poor perception of general and emotional health while it is negatively related to the volitional aspect of perceived autonomy. Their injuries are seen to be frequently associated with pre-competitive anxiety and stress (AU)

Estado psicológico de los corredores populares de maratón en los días anteriores a la prueba / Psychological state of recreational marathon runners on the days prior to the race

En este estudio, se ha investigado el estado psicológico de corredores populares de maratón 65-12 horas antes de la prueba, en tres variables relevantes: ansiedad-estado somática, ansiedad-estado cognitiva y autoconfianza-estado. Los resultados han mostrado puntuaciones bajas en las dos variables de ansiedad y altas en autoconfianza, con correlaciones significativas negativas entre la autoconfianza y cada variable de ansiedad, y una correlación significativa positiva entre la ansiedad somática y la ansiedad cognitiva. También se encontró una correlación significativa negativa entre la ansiedad somática y la edad de los sujetos, y la ansiedad somática y la experiencia de los participantes, así como una correlación positiva entre la ansiedad somática y el mejor tiempo realizado en maratones anteriores. No se hallaron diferencias significativas en función de la proximidad de la prueba, y se observó un mejor funcionamiento psicológico en los corredores con mayor experiencia y mejor rendimiento previo (AU)

The present study has investigated the psychological state of recreational marathon runners 65-12 hours prior to the event, considering three relevant variables: somatic state-anxiety, cognitive state-anxiety, and state self-confidence. Results have shown low scores in both somatic and cognitive anxiety and high scores in self-confidence, with negative significant correlations between self-confidence and somatic anxiety, and self-confidence and cognitive anxiety, and a positive significant correlation between somatic and cognitive anxiety. Likewise, a negative significant correlation was found between somatic anxiety and age, and between somatic anxiety and the previous experience of the participants. A positive significant correlation was also found between somatic anxiety and the best time in previous marathon races. Finally,significant differences were not found considering the proximity of the race, and a better psychological functioning was observed in subjects with higher previous experience and better previous performance (AU)

Estabilización de la actividad electrodermal y ciertos parámetros respiratorios / Importance of the stabilization of the electrodermal activity in relation with manipulation of some respiratory parameters

El objetivo que se persigue con este estudio es conocer en qué momento se estabiliza la conductancia eléctrica de la piel de los sujetos y en qué condiciones lo hace. Se trata de elaborar un diseño experimental, en el cual no incidan variables extrañas, que puedan distorsionar los resultados que pretendemos observar. En el estudio participaron 20 sujetos a los que se les indujeron una serie de frecuencias respiratorias durante tres minutos tomando medidas de conductancia. Los resultados mostraron, que cuando inducíamos frecuencias respiratorias de tal forma que entre ellas había una diferencia de 8 ciclos, la conductancia eléctrica de la piel se desestabilizaba desde el primer minuto y continuaba desestabilizada hasta el tercero, y que cuando inducíamos las frecuencias respiratorias de tal forma que entre ellas había una diferencia de 4 ciclos, también se observaba una desestabilización inicial que permanecía sólo durante el primer minuto de medida, estabilizándose a partir del segundo. (AU)

The main aim of this study is to know at what point, is the skin conductance level of the subjects stabilised and in what conditions this takes place. We are purporting to do an experimental design in which strange variables may alter the results we want to observe. 20 subjects participated in the study. All of them were subject to a series of respiratory frequencies (6, 10, 14, 18 and 22 cycles per minute), for three minutes. Simultaneously measurement of SCL were taken every 2 seconds in order to obtain the average values minute by minute. The results of the experiment showed, on the one hand, that when respiratory frequencies were induced with a difference of 8 cycles between them, the SCL was destabilised from the first minute and continued to be destabilised until the third, on the other hand, it showed that when the respiratory frequencies were induced with a difference or 4 cycles between them, an initial destabilisation was observed which remained only for the first minute of measurement and was stabilised from the second minute onwards (AU)