Collectivism–Individualism Makes the Relationships Between Digital Games Use and Creativity Different

Abstract

With the increasing popularity of the Internet, there is significant interest among academics and the public in understanding the relationship between the Internet and individual development. However, the association between digital games use and creativity has been a topic of controversy, as highlighted in previous research. This study aimed to investigate the potential moderating effect of cultural backgrounds on the relationship between digital games use and creativity. To examine this hypothesis, a meta‐analysis of 11 papers (51 effect values) was conducted. The findings revealed digital games use was significantly correlated with originality and elaboration, rather than fluency and flexibility. Moreover, the relationship between digital games use and originality was found to be moderated by cultural collectivism–individualism. Specifically, as the level of individualistic culture increased, the strength of the correlation between digital games use and originality gradually diminished. No such moderating effect was observed for other dimensions of creativity. These results hold important theoretical implications for understanding the impact of digital games use on individual cognitive development. Additionally, they provide practical insights for offering sensitive recommendations on how to effectively harness the positive effects of digital games.