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Title: Characteristics of ADHD Related to Executive Function: Differential Predictions for Creativity‐Related Traits
ABSTRACT Although the relationship between creativity andADHDis uncertain, recent studies examining how dimensionally assessed characteristics ofADHDrelate to creativity and divergent thinking in adults suggest an occasional positive, linear relationship between the constructs. However, the executive functions proposed to underlie characteristics ofADHDhave not been examined in relation to creativity. This study was conducted to determine how different characteristics ofADHDrelated to executive functioning (as assessed by the BrownADDScales) predict different components of figural divergent thinking, intellectual risk‐taking, and creative self‐efficacy. Undergraduate engineering students (N = 60) completed the BrownADDScales, a figural divergent thinking task, and self‐report measures of intellectual risk‐taking and creative self‐efficacy. A series of multivariate regression models demonstrated that several components of divergent thinking (i.e., fluency, originality, and resistance to closure) were predicted by different characteristics ofADHD. Although fluency was predicted by affect only and originality was predicted by activation only, resistance to closure was predicted by activation, effort, and attention. Additionally, intellectual risk‐taking was predicted by memory, effort, and activation, whereas creative self‐efficacy was predicted by effort. The implications of these results relating to the relationship betweenADHDand creativity, as well as for engineering undergraduate education are discussed.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1653854
PAR ID:
10494802
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Date Published:
Journal Name:
The Journal of Creative Behavior
Volume:
54
Issue:
2
ISSN:
0022-0175
Page Range / eLocation ID:
350 to 362
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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