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Inverted U-Shaped Function Between Flow and Cortisol Release During Chess Play

Author

Listed:
  • Tahmine Tozman

    (Goethe University Frankfurt)

  • Yichelle Y. Zhang

    (The University of Sydney)

  • Regina Vollmeyer

    (Goethe University Frankfurt)

Abstract

This study focused on the salivary cortisol level and its relation to the two components of flow (flow absorption and flow fluency) in tournament chess players exposed to one of the skill-demand-level manipulations (underload, fit, and overload). The aims of this study were to investigate how skill-demand-level manipulations affect cortisol release and how flow and cortisol release are related in the context of an engaging task. Specifically, the task involved fifty-seven tournament chess players playing chess against a software in one of the experimental groups. We assessed flow after chess playing for 25 min via questionnaire and collected saliva before chess playing (T1), right after chess playing (T2), and 10 min after T2 (T3). Our findings show that cortisol levels were affected by the skill-demand-level manipulations. At T3, participants in the overload group showed higher cortisol levels than participants in the fit and underload groups. There were no differences in cortisol release between the experimental groups at T2. In addition, we found the expected inverted U-shaped relation between cortisol release and flow absorption at T2. A moderate level of cortisol was associated with a higher level of flow absorption. In contrast, a higher level of cortisol was associated with a lower level of flow absorption. Against our expectations, flow fluency was not related to cortisol release. We discuss practical and theoretical implications of our results as well as potential for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:18:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s10902-016-9726-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-016-9726-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
    2. Lucia Ceja & José Navarro, 2009. "Dynamics of Flow: A Nonlinear Perspective," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 10(6), pages 665-684, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jacob M. Marszalek & Patricia L. Hager & Jacquelyn N. Anderson & Jack T. Waddell, 2021. "Interrelationships Among Dimensions of Flow and Reactance," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(8), pages 3385-3412, December.
    2. 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.
    3. Corinna Peifer & Christine Syrek & Vivian Ostwald & Eva Schuh & Conny H. Antoni, 2020. "Thieves of Flow: How Unfinished Tasks at Work are Related to Flow Experience and Wellbeing," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(5), pages 1641-1660, June.
    4. Guillermo Mendoza & Manuel Jiménez & Jerónimo García-Romero & Jorge García-Bastida & Iván Rivilla & Margarita Carrillo de Albornoz-Gil & Francisco Javier Baron-Lopez & Javier Benítez-Porres & José Ram, 2020. "Challenging the Top Player: A Preliminary Study on Testosterone Response to An Official Chess Tournament," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-11, February.
    5. Camille Tordet & Séverine Erhel & Eric Wodey & Eric Jamet & Nicolas Nardi & Corentin Gonthier, 2021. "The Flow Observational Grid: an Observation-Based Solution to Assess Flow States," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 3069-3089, October.

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