Abstract

JESUS, Saul Neves de et al. Artists’ creativity and motivation as predictors of their mental health. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2014, vol.15, n.3, pp.554-566. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/14psd150301.

Literature seems to suggest that professionals working in the arts field are more creative, and work motivated, but also reveal greater mental health vulnerability. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to understand if creativity and motivation in the art world, can help predict artitsts’ mental health, in terms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Existing instruments were used to assess creativity (EPC), intrinsic motivation (IMQ), and the three indicators of malaise: (a) stress; (b) anxiety; and (c) depression (DASS-21). The sample comprised 100 professionals from the art world. There is a significant correlation between creativity and professional motivation. It was also found that the relationship between the three indicators of malaise and creativity or intrinsic motivation is always negative. Nevertheless, the analysis of the joint effects of creativity, motivation, and socio-demographic variables, showed that only creativity contributes significantly to lower levels of anxiety. Creativity seems to have a protective effect on artists’ mental health.

Keywords : Artists; creativity; intrinsic motivation; mental health.

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