Environments and the experience of flow: A scoping review

Investigations into the impact of natural and built environments on mental health often place greater emphasis on hedonic experience over other meaningful aspects of human wellbeing such as flow. Psychological flow occurs during episodes of deep immersion in intrinsically motivated activities. Giving rise to feelings of fulfilment and self-transcendence, it can contribute to both hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing. Although individual differences and social contexts can enable or inhibit flow, it is not entirely clear how natural and built environments are associated with flow experiences. The objective of this review is to map existing primary research concerning how environments (natural and built) relate to flow experiences. A total of 60 included sources, published between 1975 and the end of 2022, illustrate that flow is not only impacted by the environment, but also connected to place-based meaning. Four themes reflect the type of source findings, highlighting the importance of 1. contact with nature, 2. person-environment fit, 3. aesthetics and 4. relationship to place. Review findings explore areas for future research and potential implications for nature-based interventions

Physical Environments and the Experience of Flow: A Systematic Scoping Review

The objective of this scoping review is to understand how physical environments relate to flow experiences and consequent outcomes for wellbeing and performance. It will systematically map sources to identify any theoretical gaps and potential shared methodological limitations within a topic of interdisciplinary relevance

Physical Environments and the Experience of Flow: A Systematic Scoping Review

The objective of this scoping review is to understand how physical environments relate to flow experiences and consequent outcomes for wellbeing and performance. It will systematically map sources to identify any knowledge gaps and potential shared methodological limitations within a topic of interdisciplinary relevance