{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T04:46:30Z","timestamp":1785732390508,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":69,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785715200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study examined whether general self-reported psychological regulatory resources were associated with retrospectively reported piano performance flow among art students at Chinese sport universities, focusing on mindfulness, self-control, and adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1,476 art students from 10 Chinese sport universities. Piano performance flow was measured using a piano-performance-adapted Chinese Work-related Flow Inventory, with current-sample CFA-based measurement evidence reported before structural testing. Mindfulness, self-control, and cognitive emotion regulation were assessed using validated Chinese instruments. Structural equation modeling examined direct and indirect associations, while fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis identified configurations associated with high and non-high flow.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Mindfulness was positively associated with self-control and piano performance flow. Self-control was positively associated with adaptive cognitive emotion regulation and negatively associated with maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation. Adaptive cognitive emotion regulation was positively associated with flow, whereas maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation was negatively associated with it. The direct association between self-control and flow was not significant after adjustment. Significant indirect associations were found through self-control and both forms of cognitive emotion regulation. fsQCA indicated that no single condition was necessary for high or non-high flow. High flow was associated with two configurations combining high mindfulness and low maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation with either high self-control or high adaptive cognitive emotion regulation. Non-high flow was associated with low mindfulness, low adaptive cognitive emotion regulation, and high maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Piano performance flow in this sport-university context was associated with psychological regulatory resources and configurations of those resources. These cross-sectional findings should be interpreted as correlational and hypothesis-generating. They identify candidate psychological resources for future performance-education research rather than demonstrating causal, real-time, or intervention effects.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1886877","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T04:26:04Z","timestamp":1785731164000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Finding flow at the piano: psychological regulation and configurational profiles among art students at Chinese sport universities"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Yaqing","family":"Zhang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Arts, Chengdu Sport University","place":["Chengdu, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"382","DOI":"10.1016\/j.janxdis.2014.03.005","article-title":"Adaptive and maladactive emotion regulation strategies: interactive effects during CBT for social anxiety disorder","volume":"28","author":"Aldao","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Anxiety Disord."},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"276","DOI":"10.1037\/a0023598","article-title":"When are adaptive strategies most predictive of psychopathology?","volume":"121","author":"Aldao","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Abnorm. Psychol."},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cpr.2009.11.004","article-title":"Emotion-regulation strategies across psychopathology: a meta-analytic review","volume":"30","author":"Aldao","year":"2010","journal-title":"Clin. Psychol. Rev."},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"831508","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2022.831508","article-title":"Achieving flow: an exploratory investigation of elite college athletes and musicians","volume":"13","author":"Antonini Philippe","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1177\/1073191105283504","article-title":"Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness","volume":"13","author":"Baer","year":"2006","journal-title":"Assessment"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"400","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvb.2007.11.007","article-title":"The work-related flow inventory: construction and initial validation of the WOLF","volume":"72","author":"Bakker","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Vocat. Behav."},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"177","DOI":"10.1177\/1029864917715061","article-title":"Strategies and mechanisms in musical affect self-regulation: a new model","volume":"23","author":"Baltazar","year":"2019","journal-title":"Musicae Sci."},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"701","DOI":"10.1037\/0096-3445.130.4.701","article-title":"On the fragility of skilled performance: what governs choking under pressure?","volume":"130","author":"Beilock","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Exp. Psychol. Gen."},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1138638","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2023.1138638","article-title":"Editorial: I got flow! The flow state in music and artistic sport contexts","volume":"14","author":"Biasutti","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"230","DOI":"10.1093\/clipsy.bph077","article-title":"Mindfulness: a proposed operational definition","volume":"11","author":"Bishop","year":"2004","journal-title":"Clin. Psychol. Sci. Pract."},{"key":"ref11","first-page":"554","author":"Chen","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref12","volume-title":"Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience","author":"Csikszentmihalyi","year":"1990"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"301","DOI":"10.1037\/a0018432","article-title":"The psychophysiology of flow during piano playing","volume":"10","author":"De Manzano","year":"2010","journal-title":"Emotion"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.1177\/1088868311418749","article-title":"Taking stock of self-control: a meta-analysis of how trait self-control relates to a wide range of behaviors","volume":"16","author":"de Ridder","year":"2012","journal-title":"Personal. Soc. Psychol. Rev."},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1007\/s12671-011-0050-9","article-title":"The five facet mindfulness questionnaire: psychometric properties of the Chinese version","volume":"2","author":"Deng","year":"2011","journal-title":"Mindfulness"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1123\/tsp.2012-0093","article-title":"Psychosocial predictors of well-being in collegiate dancers","volume":"28","author":"Draugelis","year":"2014","journal-title":"Sport Psychol."},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1177\/1745691615623247","article-title":"Situational strategies for self-control","volume":"11","author":"Duckworth","year":"2016","journal-title":"Perspect. Psychol. Sci."},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e70103","DOI":"10.1002\/jcv2.70103","article-title":"The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on emotion regulation\/dysregulation in people with mental health conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis","author":"Easdale-Cheele","year":"2026","journal-title":"JCPP Adv."},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"336","DOI":"10.1037\/1528-3542.7.2.336","article-title":"Anxiety and cognitive performance: attentional control theory","volume":"7","author":"Eysenck","year":"2007","journal-title":"Emotion"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"393","DOI":"10.5465\/amj.2011.60263120","article-title":"Building better causal theories: a fuzzy set approach to typologies in organization research","volume":"54","author":"Fiss","year":"2011","journal-title":"Acad. Manag. J."},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1177\/002224378101800104","article-title":"Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error","volume":"18","author":"Fornell","year":"1981","journal-title":"J. Mark. Res."},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1367","DOI":"10.1038\/s42003-021-02879-4","article-title":"Back to feedback: aberrant sensorimotor control in music performance under pressure","volume":"4","author":"Furuya","year":"2021","journal-title":"Commun. Biol."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1311","DOI":"10.1016\/S0191-8869(00)00113-6","article-title":"Negative life events, cognitive emotion regulation and emotional problems","volume":"30","author":"Garnefski","year":"2001","journal-title":"Personal. Individ. Differ."},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"482","DOI":"10.1177\/1476127018786487","article-title":"Studying configurations with qualitative comparative analysis: best practices in strategy and organization research","volume":"16","author":"Greckhamer","year":"2018","journal-title":"Strateg. Organ."},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.1037\/1089-2680.2.3.271","article-title":"The emerging field of emotion regulation: an integrative review","volume":"2","author":"Gross","year":"1998","journal-title":"Rev. Gen. Psychol."},{"key":"ref26","volume-title":"Multivariate data analysis","author":"Hair","year":"2019"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1356","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2016.01356","article-title":"Performing at the top of one's musical game","volume":"7","author":"Hatfield","year":"2016","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1721","DOI":"10.1177\/0305735620972788","article-title":"Experiences of developing pre-performance routines with recreational pianists","volume":"49","author":"Hawkes","year":"2021","journal-title":"Psychol. Music"},{"key":"ref29","volume-title":"Introduction to Mediation, Moderation, and Conditional Process Analysis: A Regression-based Approach","author":"Hayes","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1037\/ocp0000369","article-title":"An energizing microintervention: how mindfulness fosters subjective vitality through regulatory processes and flow experience at work","volume":"29","author":"Hohnemann","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Occup. Health Psychol."},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/10705519909540118","article-title":"Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: conventional criteria versus new alternatives","volume":"6","author":"Hu","year":"1999","journal-title":"Struct. Equ. Model. Multidiscip. J."},{"key":"ref32","volume-title":"Thinking and Playing Music: Intentional Strategies for Optimal Practice and Performance","author":"Iott","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.1123\/jsep.24.2.133","article-title":"Assessing flow in physical activity: the flow state Scale-2 and dispositional flow Scale-2","volume":"24","author":"Jackson","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Sport Exerc. Psychol."},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"853733","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2022.853733","article-title":"Getting into the zone: a pilot study of autonomic-cardiac modulation and flow state during piano performance","volume":"13","author":"Jha","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Psych."},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"407","DOI":"10.1177\/00224294221099833","article-title":"An exploratory study of music teachers\u2019 flow experiences between performing and teaching music","volume":"70","author":"Kang","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Res. Music. Educ."},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"393","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2007.07.001","article-title":"Relationships between mindfulness, flow dispositions and mental skills adoption: a cluster analytic approach","volume":"9","author":"Kee","year":"2008","journal-title":"Psychol. Sport Exerc."},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1093\/acprof:oso\/9780199586141.001.0001","volume-title":"The Psychology of Music Performance Anxiety","author":"Kenny","year":"2011"},{"key":"ref38","volume-title":"Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling","author":"Kline","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"777","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2014.00777","article-title":"Error management for musicians: an interdisciplinary conceptual framework","volume":"5","author":"Kruse-Weber","year":"2014","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1386831","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2024.1386831","article-title":"Flow and performance: a quantitative study of elicitation modeling in a piano performance perspective","volume":"15","author":"Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"853","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2013.00853","article-title":"Getting into the musical zone: trait emotional intelligence and amount of practice predict flow in pianists","volume":"4","author":"Marin","year":"2013","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"160","DOI":"10.3390\/sports12060160","article-title":"Flow training program: mindfulness, decision making, and mental well-being of young and adult elite handball athletes","volume":"12","author":"Martiny","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sports"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1037\/1082-989X.12.1.23","article-title":"Bias in cross-sectional analyses of longitudinal mediation","volume":"12","author":"Maxwell","year":"2007","journal-title":"Psychol. Methods"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"816","DOI":"10.1080\/00273171.2011.606716","article-title":"Bias in cross-sectional analyses of longitudinal mediation: partial and complete mediation under an autoregressive model","volume":"46","author":"Maxwell","year":"2011","journal-title":"Multivar. Behav. Res."},{"key":"ref45","volume-title":"Test Theory: A Unified Treatment","author":"McDonald","year":"1999"},{"key":"ref46","author":"McPherson","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"130","DOI":"10.1093\/acprof:osobl\/9780199754397.003.0004","volume-title":"MENC Handbook of Research on Music Learning: Volume 2: Applications","author":"McPherson","year":"2011"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"899621","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2022.899621","article-title":"Development of flow state self-regulation skills and coping with musical performance anxiety: design and evaluation of an electronically implemented psychological program","volume":"13","author":"Moral-Bofill","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref49","first-page":"89","volume-title":"Handbook of Positive Psychology","author":"Nakamura","year":"2002"},{"key":"ref50","volume-title":"Psychometric Theory","author":"Nunnally","year":"1994"},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102310","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102310","article-title":"Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA): guidelines for research practice in information systems and marketing","volume":"58","author":"Pappas","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Inf. Manag."},{"key":"ref52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.52165\/sgj.12.2.147-161","article-title":"Physiological and anxiety responses to socially prescribed perfectionism for gymnastic competition: case study","volume":"12","author":"Pineda-Espejel","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sci. Gymnastics J."},{"key":"ref53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"879","DOI":"10.1037\/0021-9010.88.5.879","article-title":"Common method biases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies","volume":"88","author":"Podsakoff","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Appl. Psychol."},{"key":"ref54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"879","DOI":"10.3758\/BRM.40.3.879","article-title":"Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple-mediator models","volume":"40","author":"Preacher","year":"2008","journal-title":"Behav. Res. Methods"},{"key":"ref55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.7208\/chicago\/9780226702797.001.0001","volume-title":"Redesigning social Inquiry: Fuzzy Sets and Beyond","author":"Ragin","year":"2008"},{"key":"ref56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0265936","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0265936","article-title":"Flow in contemporary musicians: individual differences in flow proneness, anxiety, and emotional intelligence","volume":"17","author":"Rakei","year":"2022","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9781139004244","volume-title":"Set-Theoretic Methods for the social Sciences: A guide to Qualitative Comparative Analysis","author":"Schneider","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"111871","DOI":"10.1016\/j.paid.2022.111871","article-title":"The connection between mindfulness and flow: a meta-analysis","volume":"200","author":"Schutte","year":"2023","journal-title":"Pers. Individ. Differ."},{"key":"ref59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1177\/0049124111404818","article-title":"Assessing the robustness of crisp-set and fuzzy-set QCA results","volume":"40","author":"Skaaning","year":"2011","journal-title":"Sociol. Methods Res."},{"key":"ref60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"725569","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.725569","article-title":"Live music performance: the relationship between flow and music performance anxiety","volume":"12","author":"Spahn","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"608","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2014.00608","article-title":"Emotional intelligence predicts individual differences in proneness for flow among musicians: the role of control and distributed attention","volume":"5","author":"Srinivasan","year":"2014","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref62","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"185","DOI":"10.31926\/but.pa.2024.17.66.2.16","article-title":"The neurocognitive perspective of piano performance: psychological and neural implications","volume":"17","author":"\u015euteu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Bull. Transil. Univers. Bra\u015fov"},{"key":"ref63","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"468","DOI":"10.16128\/j.cnki.1005-3611.2008.05.022","article-title":"Revision of self-control scale for Chinese college students","volume":"16","author":"Tan","year":"2008","journal-title":"Chin. J. Clin. Psychol."},{"key":"ref64","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.1111\/j.0022-3506.2004.00263.x","article-title":"High self-control predicts good adjustment, less pathology, better grades, and interpersonal success","volume":"72","author":"Tangney","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. Pers."},{"key":"ref65","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"356","DOI":"10.1177\/0049124117729700","article-title":"Designing research with qualitative comparative analysis (QCA): approaches, challenges, and tools","volume":"49","author":"Thomann","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sociol. Methods Res."},{"key":"ref66","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"110","DOI":"10.20448\/journal.509.2020.72.110.115","article-title":"Examining effects of physical education and fine arts education on mental skills","volume":"7","author":"Uzun D\u00f6nmez","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Educ. e-Learn. Res."},{"key":"ref67","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"913","DOI":"10.1177\/0013164413495237","article-title":"Sample size requirements for structural equation models: an evaluation of power, bias, and solution propriety","volume":"73","author":"Wolf","year":"2013","journal-title":"Educ. Psychol. Meas."},{"key":"ref68","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"764147","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2022.764147","article-title":"Preliminary assessment of individual zone of optimal functioning model applied to music performance anxiety in college piano majors","volume":"13","author":"Yao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref69","first-page":"121","article-title":"Reliability and validity of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Chinese version","volume-title":"Chin. J. Clin. Psychol","author":"Zhu","year":"2007"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1886877\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T04:26:07Z","timestamp":1785731167000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1886877\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]]},"references-count":69,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1886877"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1886877","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]]},"article-number":"1886877"}}