4.2.1. Mediating role of flow at work
Flow is an inner experience, a state of consciousness produced by participation in an activity considered enjoyable, in which people are totally immersed (Bakker, 2008). In the work context, work-related flow is defined as a short-term peak experience at work characterized by absorption, work enjoyment, and intrinsic work motivation (Bakker, 2008). Similar to mindfulness, flow at work can encourage the transformation of the characteristics into functionings; therefore, it can be considered an appropriate personal conversion factor.
According to the capability approach, personal and work conversion factors influence genuine choice, have a significant effect on agency as well as agency inequalities, and can either promote or impede opportunities to achieve capability sets. In particular, with their presence, work and personal resources can provide a range of possibilities for reaching capability sets. Individuals can achieve a capability set for role enhancements if appropriate personal and work conversion factors facilitate work and personal resources. Therefore, flow at work allows doctors to convert sense of competence (situated agency) into capability sets of work-life and life-work enhancements.
In addition, research has indicated that flow can have a direct impact on subjective well-being by promoting the experience of happiness in the here and now (Habe et al., 2021; Moneta, 2004), which in turn may foster individuals’ experience of role enhancements. Accordingly, this research proposes that work-life and life-work enhancements can be improved through flow at work. Furthermore, research has demonstrated that individuals with a high sense of competence experience a greater sense of flow than those with lower levels (Hong et al., 2019; Mesurado et al., 2016). Hence, sense of competence may be positively related to flow at work. Thus, we hypothesized that:
H5. Flow at work positively mediates the relationship between sense of competence and work-life enhancement.
H6. Flow at work positively mediates the relationship between sense of competence and life-work enhancement.