The double-edged sword of stress: A systematic meta-analysis on how stress impacts creativity

IF 7.5 1区 医学 Q1 BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Yi Huang , Rongjun Yu
{"title":"The double-edged sword of stress: A systematic meta-analysis on how stress impacts creativity","authors":"Yi Huang ,&nbsp;Rongjun Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106113","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present study provides up-to-date meta-analytical estimates of the impact of experimentally induced stress on individuals’ creative performance. Using a three-level meta-analytic model, we observed an overall negative effect of stress on creativity (d = −0.20). Our analysis reveals that this relationship is nuanced, and influenced by a variety of factors. Social-evaluative threats (SETs) did not significantly affect creativity overall (d = −0.08). Specifically, tests significantly reduced creativity, while competition showed a non-significant positive trend and (expected) performance evaluation showed a non-significant negative trend. Furthermore, results showed that mild SETs (one element) slightly but not significantly increased creativity, whereas severe SETs (three elements) significantly decreased it, indicating a curvilinear relationship. Non-social stressors, including time pressure and physical stress, significantly hindered creative performance (d = −0.45), with challenging tasks also showing a negative but non-significant effect. Additionally, the impact of stress on creativity varied by age group. Children’s creativity was notably reduced by competition, physical stress, and challenging tasks, whereas adults and adolescents’ creativity appeared to benefit from competition. Adults’ creative performance was most negatively impacted by time pressure and remained relatively stable across other stressors. These findings underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of the effects of stress on creativity. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56105,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 106113"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763425001137","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0

Abstract

The present study provides up-to-date meta-analytical estimates of the impact of experimentally induced stress on individuals’ creative performance. Using a three-level meta-analytic model, we observed an overall negative effect of stress on creativity (d = −0.20). Our analysis reveals that this relationship is nuanced, and influenced by a variety of factors. Social-evaluative threats (SETs) did not significantly affect creativity overall (d = −0.08). Specifically, tests significantly reduced creativity, while competition showed a non-significant positive trend and (expected) performance evaluation showed a non-significant negative trend. Furthermore, results showed that mild SETs (one element) slightly but not significantly increased creativity, whereas severe SETs (three elements) significantly decreased it, indicating a curvilinear relationship. Non-social stressors, including time pressure and physical stress, significantly hindered creative performance (d = −0.45), with challenging tasks also showing a negative but non-significant effect. Additionally, the impact of stress on creativity varied by age group. Children’s creativity was notably reduced by competition, physical stress, and challenging tasks, whereas adults and adolescents’ creativity appeared to benefit from competition. Adults’ creative performance was most negatively impacted by time pressure and remained relatively stable across other stressors. These findings underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of the effects of stress on creativity. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
求助全文
约1分钟内获得全文 求助全文
来源期刊
CiteScore
14.20
自引率
3.70%
发文量
466
审稿时长
6 months
期刊介绍: The official journal of the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society publishes original and significant review articles that explore the intersection between neuroscience and the study of psychological processes and behavior. The journal also welcomes articles that primarily focus on psychological processes and behavior, as long as they have relevance to one or more areas of neuroscience.
×
引用
GB/T 7714-2015
复制
MLA
复制
APA
复制
导出至
BibTeX EndNote RefMan NoteFirst NoteExpress
×
提示
您的信息不完整,为了账户安全,请先补充。
现在去补充
×
提示
您因"违规操作"
具体请查看互助需知
我知道了
×
提示
确定
请完成安全验证×
copy
已复制链接
快去分享给好友吧!
我知道了
右上角分享
点击右上角分享
0
联系我们:info@booksci.cn Book学术提供免费学术资源搜索服务,方便国内外学者检索中英文文献。致力于提供最便捷和优质的服务体验。 Copyright © 2023 布克学术 All rights reserved.
京ICP备2023020795号-1
ghs 京公网安备 11010802042870号
Book学术文献互助
Book学术文献互助群
群 号:481959085
Book学术官方微信