Negative emotions and creativity among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: the mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating role of posttraumatic growth

• Main Authors: Wei Zeng (Author), Dongtao Huang (Author), Qian Li (Author), Yanhua Xu (Author), Ziying Xu (Author), Chujin Wu (Author), Zhihao Chen (Author), Yuhao Yang (Author), Jinlian Shao (Author), Xingrou Wu (Author), Ziqi Zhu (Author), Jiamin Wu (Author), Yuqing Zeng (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2022-08-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Abstract Background The aim of the study was to use a moderated mediation model to understand and examine the relationship between negative emotions and creativity among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic, using psychological resilience as a mediator and posttraumatic growth as a moderator. Methods A sample of 881 college students in mainland China completed a self-report questionnaire that included four scales: the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale, Psychological Resilience Scale, Runco Ideational Behavior Scale and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Results Findings indicated that:(1) negative emotions were a strong predictor of creativity; (2) psychological resilience partially mediated the association between negative emotions and creativity; and (3) posttraumatic growth moderated the positive effect of psychological resilience, such that the indirect effect between negative emotions and creativity via psychological resilience was stronger for someone with a low level of resilience. Conclusion The findings further clarify the mechanisms that affect the relationship between negative emotions and creativity among college students.

Item Description

10.1186/s13690-022-00954-8
2049-3258