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The Relationship between Flow Experience and Burnout Symptoms: A Systematic Review

Author

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  • Fabienne Aust

    (Research Group Work and Health, Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany)

  • Theresa Beneke

    (Department of Biological Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany)

  • Corinna Peifer

    (Research Group Work and Health, Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Magdalena Wekenborg

    (Department of Biological Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
    Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Digital Health, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Background: In today’s performance-oriented society, burnout symptoms, defined as consequences of chronic work stress, are an increasing problem. To counteract this development, the important aims are (1) to find protective and modifiable factors that reduce the risk of developing and harboring burnout symptoms and (2) to understand the underlying mechanisms. A phenomenon potentially furthering both aims is flow experience. Based on the earlier literature, we developed a psycho-physiological “Flow-Burnout-Model”, which postulates positive or negative associations between flow and burnout symptoms, depending on the prevailing situational and personal conditions. Methods: To test our Flow-Burnout-Model, we conducted a systematic literature search encompassing flow and burnout symptoms. Eighteen empirical studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Results: The findings of the systematic review as a whole suggest a negative association between flow and burnout symptoms, both cross-sectional and longitudinal. According to the findings from longitudinal studies, flow can be interpreted as a protective factor against burnout symptoms, and burnout symptoms can be interpreted as a factor inhibiting flow. In our conclusion, we maintain the assumption of a bidirectional association between flow and burnout symptoms in the Flow-Burnout-Model but modify the initially suggested positive and negative associations between flow and burnout symptoms towards a predominantly negative relationship. Discussion: Mindful of the heterogeneous findings of earlier studies, the resulting comprehensive Flow-Burnout-Model will lay the foundations for future hypothesis-based research. This includes physiological mechanisms explaining the relationship between flow and burnout symptoms, and likewise, the conditions of their longitudinal association.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabienne Aust & Theresa Beneke & Corinna Peifer & Magdalena Wekenborg, 2022. "The Relationship between Flow Experience and Burnout Symptoms: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-30, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:3865-:d:778561
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kazuki Hirao & Ryuji Kobayashi & Kyota Okishima & Yumiko Tomokuni, 2012. "Flow experience and health‐related quality of life in community dwelling elderly Japanese," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(1), pages 52-57, March.
    2. Thais Rogatko, 2009. "The Influence of Flow on Positive Affect in College Students," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 133-148, April.
    3. Tahmine Tozman & Yichelle Y. Zhang & Regina Vollmeyer, 2017. "Inverted U-Shaped Function Between Flow and Cortisol Release During Chess Play," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 247-268, February.
    4. Marta Bassi & Patrizia Steca & Dario Monzani & Andrea Greco & Antonella Delle Fave, 2014. "Personality and Optimal Experience in Adolescence: Implications for Well-Being and Development," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 829-843, August.
    5. Marisa Salanova & Arnold Bakker & Susana Llorens, 2006. "Flow at Work: Evidence for an Upward Spiral of Personal and Organizational Resources," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-22, March.
    6. Clément Baumgarten & Estelle Michinov & Géraldine Rouxel & Vincent Bonneterre & Emmanuel Gay & Pierre-Hugues Roche, 2020. "Personal and psychosocial factors of burnout: A survey within the French neurosurgical community," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(5), pages 1-13, May.
    7. Amy Collins & Natalia Sarkisian & Ellen Winner, 2009. "Flow and Happiness in Later Life: An Investigation into the Role of Daily and Weekly Flow Experiences," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 10(6), pages 703-719, December.
    8. Laura M. Little & Bret L. Simmons & Debra L. Nelson, 2007. "Health Among Leaders: Positive and Negative Affect, Engagement and Burnout, Forgiveness and Revenge," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(2), pages 243-260, March.
    9. Wilmar B. Schaufeli & Steffie Desart & Hans De Witte, 2020. "Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT)—Development, Validity, and Reliability," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-21, December.
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