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Being Creative Makes You Happier: The Positive Effect of Creativity on Subjective Well-Being

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  • Cher-Yi Tan

    (Department of Psychology and Counselling, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Kampar 31900, Perak, D. R., Malaysia)

  • Chun-Qian Chuah

    (Department of Psychology and Counselling, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Kampar 31900, Perak, D. R., Malaysia)

  • Shwu-Ting Lee

    (Department of Psychology and Counselling, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Kampar 31900, Perak, D. R., Malaysia)

  • Chee-Seng Tan

    (Department of Psychology and Counselling, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Kampar 31900, Perak, D. R., Malaysia)

Abstract

The impact of happiness on creativity is well-established. However, little is known about the effect of creativity on well-being. Two studies were thus conducted to examine the impact of creativity on subjective well-being. In the first study, 256 undergraduate students (Study 1a) and 291 working adults (Study 1b) self-reported their creativity, stress, and subjective well-being. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed a positive relationship between creativity and subjective well-being after controlling the effect of self-perceived stress and demographics in both samples. Study 2 then employed an experimental design to examine the causal relationship between creativity and subjective well-being. Half of the 68 undergraduates underwent a creativity priming task followed by a divergent thinking test as well as self-reported stress and subjective well-being. The priming task was found to boost creative performance in the pilot study (Study 2a) and the actual study (Study 2b). Moreover, after controlling the effect of self-perceived stress, ANCOVA analysis showed that participants receiving the priming reported higher subjective well-being scores than their counterparts in the control group. The overall findings not only shed light on the facilitative effect of creativity on subjective well-being but also highlight the necessity of considering the reciprocal relationship of the two constructs in future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Cher-Yi Tan & Chun-Qian Chuah & Shwu-Ting Lee & Chee-Seng Tan, 2021. "Being Creative Makes You Happier: The Positive Effect of Creativity on Subjective Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:14:p:7244-:d:589553
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marta Bassi & Patrizia Steca & Dario Monzani & Andrea Greco & Antonella Delle Fave, 2014. "Personality and Optimal Experience in Adolescence: Implications for Well-Being and Development," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 829-843, August.
    2. Davis, Mark A., 2009. "Understanding the relationship between mood and creativity: A meta-analysis," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 108(1), pages 25-38, January.
    3. Upasna Joshi, 2010. "Subjective Well-Being by Gender," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 1(1), pages 20-26.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Jianzhen Zhang & Ziyang Wang & Collins Opoku Antwi & Xiaoyu Liang & Jiahao Ge, 2022. "Geospatial Thinking and Sense of Place: The Mediating Role of Creativity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Chee-Seng Tan & Xi-Yuan Chin & Samuel Ta-Chuan Chng & Jazen Lee & Chia-Sin Ooi, 2022. "Perceived Social Support Increases Creativity: Experimental Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-8, September.
    4. Aiste Dirzyte & Vytis Valatka, 2023. "Creative and Happy Individuals Concerned about Climate Change: Evidence Based on the 10th Round of the European Social Survey in 22 Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Umer Hussain & Inga Mohr, 2023. "Dispositional Malicious Envy and Workplace Deviance: Divergent Thinking as a Mediator," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, October.

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