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Opportunity for creativity in the job as a moderator of the relation between trait intrinsic motivation and flow in work

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Abstract

Drawing from the social psychology approach to creativity, it was hypothesized that trait intrinsic motivation would be associated with the probability of experiencing flow in work, and that the extent to which a job provides opportunity for creativity would moderate the association. A sample of 367 workers completed the Flow Questionnaire and the Work Preference Inventory, and described their job. Multinomial logistic regression of “flow in work” versus “no flow” and “flow in leisure” revealed motivation by opportunity interactions such that intrinsic motivation is associated with flow in work for high opportunity, and is either not associated or negatively associated for low opportunity. The findings support the hypotheses and indicate that person-environment matching fosters flow in work.

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Notes

  1. For the sake of completeness, the multinomial logistic model was run a second time to compare participants who experience flow primarily in leisure with those who do not experience flow at all. The interaction of motivation and opportunity was not significant, the main effect of opportunity was not significant, whereas the main effect of motivation was significant (p < .001), with estimated odds ratio of 1.99 (95% CI: 1.50–2.65). These findings indicate that the likelihood of experiencing flow in leisure relative to not experiencing flow at all depends only on motivation. Therefore, the pattern of results for flow in leisure is simpler than the pattern of results for flow in work.

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  1. Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Psychology, London Metropolitan University, Calcutta House, Old Castle Street, London, E1 7NT, UK

    Giovanni B. Moneta

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  1. Giovanni B. Moneta
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Correspondence to Giovanni B. Moneta.

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Moneta, G.B. Opportunity for creativity in the job as a moderator of the relation between trait intrinsic motivation and flow in work. Motiv Emot 36, 491–503 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-012-9278-5

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