Abstract
Being related to optimal functioning, the concept of flow is valuable for a variety of tasks and activities that entails human endeavor. Though flow gives the individuals the ability to focus energetically and direct their resources towards their goals, it was not studied in relation to the goal-directed variable of hope to date. The present study aimed to examine flow, hope and burnout in professional firefighters in Greece and to examine the antecedents of flow and hope after a challenging work incident. The Dispositional Flow Scale-2 (DFS-2), the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) and the Adult Dispositional Hope Scale (ADHS) were filled in by 180 firefighters in a pre- and post-study design. The results showed that after a fire incident, firemen’s burnout scores increased, whereas hope scores decreased. Flow and hope were positively related to professional efficacy, while stable pathways of the ADHS were associated with increased flow after the fire incident. Significant differences were detected in both flow and hope levels in relation to the participants’ burn out, as well as their age, educational level, and family status. The findings have important practical and research implications in terms of empowering workers at such stressful and demanding professions of high social and public health importance.
Highlights
The present study aimed to examine flow, hope and burnout in professional firefighters in Greece and to examine the antecedents of flow and hope after a challenging work incident
The results showed that after a fire incident, firemen’s burnout scores increased, whereas hope scores decreased
Interventions in the fire force could focus on boosting the firefighters’ professional efficacy since this was associated with their flow and hope
Summary
The prerequisites for entering flow include a combination of high enough opportunities for action and high capabilities to pursue goals (Nakamura & Csikszentmihalyi, 2009, 2014), a situation that enables someone to feel immersed with the task and totally engaged in the here-and- course of how things turn to be Such a peak experience is achieved when challenges are optimally balanced with skills, while both challenges and skills should be greater than a weekly average (Moneta, 2012). Along with absorption and enjoyment as the two main flow elements, being driven by an intrinsic motivation pertains as the third component of flow (Csikszentmihalyi, 1997) These three components have been found by flow-researchers to be a common ground in the studies regarding performance and overall productivity and creativity in several fields (Bakker, 2005; Moneta, 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
