The Effects of Fantasy Proneness on Well-being: Relationships with Locus of Control and Flow Experience

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between fantasy proneness, flow experience, locus of control, and well-being, especially focusing on the positive effect of fantasy proneness on well-being through questionnaire surveys taken by college students. In Study 1, we examined how fantasy proneness and locus of control affect flow experience. The results showed that a person with a higher fantasy proneness or an internal locus of control has more flow experience, while one with a higher fantasy proneness and an external locus of control has less flow experience, and the locus of control does not affect the flow experience for someone with low fantasy proneness. In Study 2, we attempted to develop a causal model by using the covariance structure analysis in which fantasy proneness and internal locus of control were supposed to enhance well-being through the effect of flow experience.  The causal models for two different types of well-being were scrutinized and compared: emotional（pleasure-oriented） well-being and cognitive（semantic  orientation） well-being.  As a result, these different causal models suggested the following: the emotional well-being is enhanced by the internal control and the frequency of flow experiences while the cognitive well-being is promoted by the flow personality trait rather than the frequency of flow experience.