A meta-analytical review of the impact of mindfulness on creativity: Framing current lines of research and defining moderator variables.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to clarify the impact of mindfulness interventions on creative performance by analyzing studies with control group and pretest-posttest designs.
Results Summary
The study found a positive effect of mindfulness on creativity, with effect sizes of 0.42 for control group designs and 0.59 for pretest-posttest designs. Intervention length, creativity task type, and control group type were significant moderators.
Population
Not specified (meta-analysis of existing studies)
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Varied (subgroup analysis indicated intervention length was a significant moderator)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness interventions | increase | creativity | studies using a control group design | d = 0.42, 95% CIs [0.29, 0.54] | A positive effect was identified | #1 |
mindfulness interventions | increase | creativity | studies using a pretest-posttest design | d = 0.59, 95% CIs [0.38, 0.81] | A positive effect was identified | #2 |
mindfulness interventions | increase | creative performance | - | - | enhance | #3 |
mindfulness interventions | increase | convergent thinking tasks | - | - | more advantageous outcomes | #4 |
mindfulness interventions | increase | divergent thinking tasks | - | - | more advantageous outcomes | #5 |
Findings relating to the impact of mindfulness interventions on creative performance remain inconsistent, perhaps because of discrepancies between study designs, including variability in the length of mindfulness interventions, the absence of control groups or the tendencies to explore creativity as one unitary construct. To derive a clearer understanding of the impact that mindfulness interventions may exert on creative performance, two meta-analytical reviews were conducted, drawing respectively on studies using a control group design (n = 20) and studies using a pretest-posttest design (n = 17). A positive effect was identified between mindfulness and creativity, both for control group designs (d = 0.42, 95% CIs [0.29, 0.54]) and pretest-posttest designs (d = 0.59, 95% CIs [0.38, 0.81]). Subgroup analysis revealed that intervention length, creativity task (i.e., divergent vs. convergent thinking tasks) and control group type, were significant moderators for control group studies, whereas only intervention length was a significant moderator for pretest-posttest studies. Overall, the findings support the use of mindfulness as a tool to enhance creative performance, with more advantageous outcomes for convergent as opposed to divergent thinking tasks. We discuss the implications of study design and intervention length as key factors of relevance to future research aimed at advancing theoretical accounts of the relationship between mindfulness and creativity.