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Cross Cultural Validation and Application of the Modified Flow Scale 10: Evidence from India, Italy, and Russia
Background. Flow is a beneficial state of deep involvement reported when facing a challenging activity. It is universal but varies in intensity and in the activities inducing it. Cross-cultural research therefore requires a valid, invariant tool.
Objective. This study aimed at 1) cross-cultural validation of the Flow scale and 2) examining the flow manifestations in India, Italy, and Russia.
Design. The three-factor Flow scale was supplemented by an open question on flow-inducing activities. A total of 1,007 respondents (678 female (67.3%), Mage = 22.02, SDage = 3.49) were recruited.
Results. As the Flow scale did not retain its original structure, a new unifactorial, shortened version – the Modified Flow Scale-10 (MFS-10) – was proposed. It retained all flow indicators and showed good psychometric properties, good fit, and partial scalar invariance across countries and sex. Flow scores were highest in Russia, followed by India, and lowest in Italy. The activities inducing flow included universal and country- and sex-specific components: sport and physical activity formed the invariant "core"; meditation and time in nature were specific to Italy, analytical and creative work to Russia, and dancing and singing to India; men more often named games and analytics, whereas women named drawing, dance and singing.
Conclusion. A systematic psychometric examination produced a valid, reliable Modified Flow Scale-10, which was then used to identify the activities causing flow. Whereas the invariant "core" is formed by sport and physical activity, each country's profile is characterized by the activities most salient in its culture.