From challenge-skills balance to wellbeing in sports: the role of team identification and flow

This study investigated the psychological mechanisms linking challenge-skills balance to psychological wellbeing among team-sport athletes, considering team identification and flow experience as the fundamental drivers of this relationship. A sample of 281 team-sport athletes completed an online survey comprising measures of challenge-skill balance, team identification, flow, and wellbeing. Results supported the hypothesized model: Athletes who perceived their competencies as congruent with competitive demands reported stronger team identification, which in turn was related to deeper flow experiences. Flow was then associated with wellbeing, mediating the effect of team identification. These findings highlight the interconnected role of cognitive resources, social identity processes, and optimal experiential states in sustaining athletes' psychological wellbeing.