Creativity, Boredom Proneness and Well-Being in the Pandemic

Behavioral Sciences

Paul Seli¹  Nicholaus P. Brosowsky²  Jhotisha Mugon³  James Danckert³  Abigail A. Scholer³  Nathaniel Barr⁴ 

[1] Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, 417 Chapel Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA;Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, 190 Dysart Rd., Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada;Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada;Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sheridan College, 1430 Trafalgar Rd., Oakville, ON L6H 2L1, Canada;

关键词: creativity;    boredom proneness;    COVID-19 pandemic;    well-being;   

DOI  :  10.3390/bs12030068

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Throughout the course of the pandemic, it has become clear that the strictures of social isolation and various levels of lockdown constraints have impacted people’s well-being. Here, our aim was to explore relations between trait dispositions associated with boredom proneness, self-regulation and well-being using data collected early in the pandemic. Specifically, we explored whether the tendency to engage in everyday creative pursuits (e.g., making your own greeting cards) would act as a prophylactic against poor well-being. Results showed that well-being was higher for those individuals who increased engagement with creative pursuits during the early stages of the pandemic. That is, people who engaged more in everyday creative activities also reported higher levels of self-esteem, optimism, and positive affect. In contrast, those who pursued fewer creative outlets had higher levels of depression and anxiety, were higher in boredom proneness, and reported experiencing more negative affect. As we emerge from the pandemic, these data provide a clue as to how people might plan to cope adaptively with the restrictive circumstances this extreme world event engendered. More generally, these data provide support for the notion that everyday creativity (and not necessarily creative expertise) has positive associations for well-being.

【 授权许可】

Unknown