Optimism Mediates the Association Between Flow Experience and Psychological Well-Being: A Systematic Review of Recent Evidence

Abstract

Researchers have found that psychological well-being is independently correlated with both optimism and flow. Although the flow–optimism–well-being structure has been studied empirically, there hasn’t been much concentrated synthesis on optimism’s particular mediating mechanism. This review conducts a thorough analysis of peer-reviewed research on optimism as a specific mediator between flow and psychological health in adults between the ages of 18 and 65. PRISMA 2020 guidelines were adhered to in this systematic review. To find studies published between 2015 and 2025, six databases were searched: PsycINFO, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and ERIC. The following criteria must be met for inclusion: statistical mediation analysis of optimism between flow and well-being, adult samples, empirical research, and English language proficiency. To evaluate quality, the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was employed. All of the updated inclusion criteria were met by three studies. However, generalizability is constrained by measurement and design heterogeneity. With indirect effects ranging from .15 to.23, these studies consistently showed that optimism serves as a mediator in the relationship between flow and psychological well-being particularly. Although the majority of the included studies used cross-sectional designs, the evidence was especially strong in longitudinal and daily diary designs. Hence, the review reveals a consistent but moderate mediation effect where optimism acts as a significant psychological mechanism through which flow experiences enhance well-being.

Keywords

flow experience optimism psychological well-being mediation positive psychology

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