Long and Short Measures of Flow: The Construct Validity of the FSS-2, DFS-2, and New Brief Counterparts

Citation

Jackson S, Martin A & Eklund R (2008) Long and Short Measures of Flow: The Construct Validity of the FSS-2, DFS-2, and New Brief Counterparts. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 30 (5), pp. 561-587. http://journals.humankinetics.com/jsep-back-issues/JSEPVolume30Issue5October/LongandShortMeasuresofFlowTheConstructValidityoftheFSS2DFS2andNewBriefCounterparts

Abstract
Long and short flow scales are examined from dispositional (n = 652 long; n = 692 short) and state (n = 499 long; n = 865 short) perspectives. The long flow scales con­stitute a 36-item multidimensional assessment of flow and have previously demon­strated good psychometric properties. The short flow scales constitute new abbrevi­ated versions of the long forms, contain 9 items, and provide a brief measure of flow from a dimensional perspective. In the current study, long and short flow scales are assessed across a large and diverse physical activity sample. With few exceptions, these flow measures demonstrated acceptable model fit, reliability, and distributions; associations with key correlates in parallel and hypothesized ways; and invariance in factor loadings. Together, the scales provide options for assessing flow in different contexts and when different goals or constraints are operating. Researchers wanting to capture an aggregate of the multidimensional framework might find the short scales a pragmatic alternative when constraints prohibit use of the full-length versions.

Journal
Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology: Volume 30, Issue 5