Personality differences in flow experience during collaborative problem solving in work teams

This study investigates the relationship between team members' personality traits and their perceived individual and team flow in collaborative problem-solving (CPS) contexts. Flow, a state of optimal experience, enhances motivation, performance, and satisfaction, benefiting both individuals an...

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Main Authors: Siem Buseyne, Thierry Danquigny, Fien Depaepe, Jean Heutte, Annelies Raes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Acta Psychologica
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825003452
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author Siem Buseyne
Thierry Danquigny
Fien Depaepe
Jean Heutte
Annelies Raes
author_facet Siem Buseyne
Thierry Danquigny
Fien Depaepe
Jean Heutte
Annelies Raes
author_sort Siem Buseyne
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the relationship between team members' personality traits and their perceived individual and team flow in collaborative problem-solving (CPS) contexts. Flow, a state of optimal experience, enhances motivation, performance, and satisfaction, benefiting both individuals and teams. Using multilevel regression analysis, we examined data from 60 participants across 15 work teams performing two CPS tasks, assessing individual and team flow separately. Linear regression revealed no noteworthy links between personality domains and individual flow. However, curvilinear analyses revealed various insights, with U-shaped relationships observed for Extraversion, indicating that individuals with either low or high levels of Extraversion tend to experience higher individual flow than those with moderate levels of this trait. Altruism/Agreeableness, while unrelated to individual flow, showed significant linear relationships with various team flow dimensions, including open communication and sense of unity. For team flow as well, curvilinear analyses revealed similar U-shaped relationships, mainly observed for Extraversion. The findings illustrate the nuanced role of personality in CPS and highlight the value of exploring curvilinear relationships besides linear relationships. Future research should examine the mechanisms underlying these relationships and their generalizability across contexts.
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spelling doaj-art-0ea67deb1b0b4617addb496b95c5af7d2025-08-20T01:51:53ZengElsevierActa Psychologica0001-69182025-06-0125610503210.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105032Personality differences in flow experience during collaborative problem solving in work teamsSiem Buseyne0Thierry Danquigny1Fien Depaepe2Jean Heutte3Annelies Raes4KU Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Centre for Instructional Psychology & Technology, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven, imec research group itec, Kortrijk, Belgium; ULR 4354 - CIREL - Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche en Education de Lille, Université de Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France; Corresponding author at: itec, imec research group at KU Leuven, campus Kortrijk, Etienne Sabbelaan 51, Kortrijk, Belgium.ULR 4354 - CIREL - Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche en Education de Lille, Université de Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq, FranceKU Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Centre for Instructional Psychology & Technology, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven, imec research group itec, Kortrijk, BelgiumULR 4354 - CIREL - Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche en Education de Lille, Université de Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq, FranceKU Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Centre for Instructional Psychology & Technology, Leuven, BelgiumThis study investigates the relationship between team members' personality traits and their perceived individual and team flow in collaborative problem-solving (CPS) contexts. Flow, a state of optimal experience, enhances motivation, performance, and satisfaction, benefiting both individuals and teams. Using multilevel regression analysis, we examined data from 60 participants across 15 work teams performing two CPS tasks, assessing individual and team flow separately. Linear regression revealed no noteworthy links between personality domains and individual flow. However, curvilinear analyses revealed various insights, with U-shaped relationships observed for Extraversion, indicating that individuals with either low or high levels of Extraversion tend to experience higher individual flow than those with moderate levels of this trait. Altruism/Agreeableness, while unrelated to individual flow, showed significant linear relationships with various team flow dimensions, including open communication and sense of unity. For team flow as well, curvilinear analyses revealed similar U-shaped relationships, mainly observed for Extraversion. The findings illustrate the nuanced role of personality in CPS and highlight the value of exploring curvilinear relationships besides linear relationships. Future research should examine the mechanisms underlying these relationships and their generalizability across contexts.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825003452PersonalityCollaborative problem solvingOptimal experienceFlowTeam flow
spellingShingle Siem Buseyne
Thierry Danquigny
Fien Depaepe
Jean Heutte
Annelies Raes
Personality differences in flow experience during collaborative problem solving in work teams
Acta Psychologica
Personality
Collaborative problem solving
Optimal experience
Flow
Team flow
title Personality differences in flow experience during collaborative problem solving in work teams
title_full Personality differences in flow experience during collaborative problem solving in work teams
title_fullStr Personality differences in flow experience during collaborative problem solving in work teams
title_full_unstemmed Personality differences in flow experience during collaborative problem solving in work teams
title_short Personality differences in flow experience during collaborative problem solving in work teams
title_sort personality differences in flow experience during collaborative problem solving in work teams
topic Personality
Collaborative problem solving
Optimal experience
Flow
Team flow
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825003452
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AT jeanheutte personalitydifferencesinflowexperienceduringcollaborativeproblemsolvinginworkteams
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