Emotion, Vol 26(6), Sep 2026, 1323-1335; doi:10.1037/emo0001657
Flow is the experience of being deeply immersed in an activity, an experience that researchers have embraced as a predictor of well-being. Although research on the beneficial effects of flow is widespread, its multidisciplinary nature has precluded a clear consensus on their nature and strength. Results from a meta-analysis revealed a moderately strong, positive relationship between flow and well-being, consistent with our hypothesis. Features of the well-being measure moderated the association, such that eudaimonic measures showed a stronger association than did hedonic measures, and among hedonic measures, measures of cognitive well-being were more strongly associated with flow than affective measures. Measures of positive aspects of well-being were also more strongly associated with flow than measures of negative aspects. The association was surprisingly robust to features of the flow measure and activity, the design of the study, and characteristics of the sample. These findings suggest that flow in all its forms may be positively associated with well-being, though not all forms of well-being equally. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)