Motivational Determinants of Flow: Contributions From Self-Determination Theory

Abstract The study examined the relationships between different types of situational motivation and flow and situational motivational determinants (perceptions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and the experience of flow. Immediately following a swim practice, 203 Canadian master's-level swimmers completed a questionnaire that assessed different variables. Results indicated that situational self-determined forms of motivation (intrinsic motivation and self-determined extrinsic motivation) and perceptions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness were positively related to flow, whereas amotivation was negatively related to flow.