https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5509147/v1
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License
The relationship between bipolar disorder (BD) and creativity has long fascinated both the academic community and the public. However, empirical evidence and meta-analytic findings have remained ambiguous and complex. This meta-analysis systematically investigates the association between BD (including clinical and subclinical samples) and various dimensions of creativity, including divergent thinking, creative achievements, and artistic creativity, with a particular focus on the moderating effects of multiple influencing factors. A thorough literature search of 6,298 screened articles yielded 35 relevant studies, encompassing 114 effect sizes and 48,979 individuals. Using a multilevel random-effects model, our analysis found a small but statistically significant positive relationship between BD and creativity (g = 0.20, 95% CI: [0.08, 0.32]). Specifically, individuals with subclinical BD were associated with higher levels of creative output (g = 0.32, 95% CI: [0.22, 0.41]) than clinical sample (g = 0.06, 95% CI: [-0.17, 0.29]), which somewhat supports the inverted U-shaped relationship hypothesis. Studies using correlational methods or self-reported creativity exhibited a significantly positive link between BD and creativity. Additionally, this link was moderated by several key variables, such as the severity and type of BD, the creativity assessment method, and various demographic factors. By addressing methodological inconsistencies in previous research and offering a more comprehensive analysis of moderator variables, this meta-analysis deepens our understanding creativity in BD.
