Experiência Flow em Atividades de Desporto de Natureza na Madeira

Abstract

The goal of the present study is to characterize the Flow Experience in activities as Levadas, Hiking and Mountain Biking. We aim to analyse the differences between practitioners, on how they perceive their experience. A survey was applied, at the end of each activity. A sample of 449 individuals from 21 different countries was collected. From this sample 217 individuals were males and 232 females with an average age of 41.5 ± 16.1 years old. According to the results obtained in the joint analysis of activities, the natural space scale stands out, was the aspect most valued by practitioners. On the other hand, the motivation scale of the practitioners was the least valued aspect. On the demographic analysis, differences were found (p <0.05) regarding the profile of practitioners in the three activities. Mountain bikers stand out from the Levadas practitioners and the Hikers (p <0.05), being on average younger and in a greater proportion males. When comparing the three activities the description of the Flow experience is reported in a different way by the practitioners (p <0.05). Only in the natural scenario scale, no differences (p = 0.110) were verified. Overall, we consider that it is possible to conclude that this type of activities can provide the Flow experience and that the instrument used allows us to characterize it.