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Are Adolescents with Higher Openness More Creative Under Stress? The Mediating Role of Stress Perception and Cognitive Flexibility

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Stress is a major risk factor for creativity development in adolescents. This study explored the protective effect of openness on creative tendency under stress and revealed the underlying mechanisms from the perspectives of stress perception and cognitive flexibility. A total of 1489 junior high school students (Mage = 13.65 years, SD = 0.74) participated in the study. The results showed that stress perception and cognitive flexibility sequentially mediated the negative effect of stressors on creative tendency, and openness moderated this process. Individuals with high openness had lower stress perception and higher cognitive flexibility at the same level of stressors, thus showing a higher creative tendency. However, the protective effect of openness diminished as the stress level increased. We concluded that openness could buffer the negative effects of stress on creative tendency to some extent. These findings highlight the importance of positive personality traits and provide a theoretical guide for cultivating creative qualities.

Source: Journal of Intelligence

DOI: 10.3390/jintelligence14020032

Authors: Yifan Wang, Jialing Liu, Yadan Li, Haijun Duan

Institution: Shaanxi Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Creativity in Education and Neuroscience

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137