Creativity and mental health in everyday life.

doi:10.1080/10400419009534351

Paper

Creativity and mental health in everyday life.

Published 1990 · A. Cropley

Creativity Research Journal

Q1 SJR score

131

Citations

10

Influential Citations

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Semantic Scholar

Abstract

Abstract The connection between mental health and creativity has traditionally been studied in terms of outstanding aesthetic‐professional creativity and mental illness. More interesting however, is the possible connection between “everyday “ creativity and mental health. Everyday creativity involves attacking day to day activities in a divergent way: It derives from a complex of cognitive, affective, personal, motivational, and social factors, and is characterized by openness, flexibility, autonomy, playfulness, humor willingness to take risks, and perseverance. These characteristics are also consistently emphasized in models of “normal”; personality growth, so that the possibility of promoting mental health arises by fostering creativity in day to day life. Several small studies described in this article give examples of how this might be done and the kinds of benefits which can result.

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Study Snapshot

Key takeawayFostering everyday creativity, characterized by openness, flexibility, autonomy, playfulness, humor, willingness to take risks, and perseverance, can potentially promote mental health and overall well-being.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

Creativity and mental health in everyday life.

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