Flow-Erleben im Alter: Eine Untersuchung von Einflussfaktoren und Nutzen für die Therapiegestaltung bei geriatrischen Patienten

Zusammenfassung

Flow-Erleben, ein Gefühl des reflexionsfreien und maximal vertieften Aufgehens in einer Tätigkeit, hat positive Auswirkungen auf psychisches und körperliches Wohlbefinden, Leistungsfähigkeit und Lebenszufriedenheit. Im Alter wurde Flow-Erleben wenig erforscht, Studien an geriatrischen Patienten fehlen bislang völlig. In der vorliegenden Untersuchung wurden alte Patienten (M=81,2, SD=5,9) einer Tagesklinik im Hinblick auf ihr Flow-Erleben mittels der Flow-Kurzskala FKS untersucht. Neben Alters- und Geschlechtseffekten wurde Flow bei zwei verschiedenen Tätigkeiten (Bewegungs- vs. Gedächtnistraining) erhoben, zudem wurden die Rolle von individueller Aktivität und Gruppendynamik sowie Zusammenhänge von Flow und Therapieerfolg näher beleuchtet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Flow-Erleben auch im Alter möglich ist. Depressive Patienten erlebten genauso viel Flow wie Nicht-Depressive, kognitiv Beeinträchtigte erlebten hingegen weniger Flow als Patienten ohne kognitive Defizite, chronische Schmerzpatienten berichteten bei Bewegungsangeboten sogar mehr Flow-Erleben als Patienten ohne Schmerzen. Eine hohe Eigenaktivität wirkte sich insgesamt positiv auf das Flow-Erleben aus. Das Therapieergebnis konnte durch Flow nicht beeinflusst werden. Flow-Erleben im Alter sollte insbesondere bei bewegungstherapeutischen Angeboten für Schmerzpatienten mehr Beachtung finden, weitere Zusammenhänge, insbesondere auch hinsichtlich Depressionen, müssen noch untersucht werden.

Abstract

Flow experience, a feeling of being absorbed in an activity without reflection and with maximum depth, has positive effects on psychological and physical well-being, performance, and life satisfaction. Little research has been done on flow experience in old age, and there are no studies on geriatric patients. In the present study, elderly patients (mean age:81.2, SD=5.9) of a day hospital were examined with regard to their flow experience using the flow short scale. In addition to age and gender effects, flow was assessed during two different activities ( physical activity vs. memory training). Furthermore, the role of individual activity and group dynamics as well as correlations between flow and therapy success were examined in detail. The results show that flow experience is possible even in old age. Depressed patients experienced as much flow as non-depressed patients; cognitively impaired patients, on the other hand, experienced less flow than patients without cognitive deficits, and chronic pain patients even reported more flow experiences during exercise programs than patients without pain. A high level of self-activity had an overall positive effect on the flow experience. The therapy outcome could not be influenced by flow. Flow experience in old age should be given more attention, especially in physical activity therapy for pain patients; further correlations, especially with regard to depression, remain to be investigated.

Schlüsselwörter

Flow - Alter - Depression - Schmerz

Key words

flow experience - older adults - depression - pain

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