HONG KONG – Stress affects creativity differently across age groups, according to a new study led by Prof Huang Yi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Lingnan University.

Huang and her team conducted a meta-analysis of 99 experimental studies published worldwide between 1965 and 2022, covering 8,749 participants from primary school children to adults. The researchers divided subjects into three groups – children aged 12 and below, adolescents aged 13 to 17, and adults aged 18 and above – to examine how stress influences creative performance.

The study found that children exposed to stressors such as competition, noise, confined environments and time-limited tasks were more likely to experience anxiety, which hindered their creativity. By contrast, adolescents and adults tended to show enhanced creativity under competitive pressure, though examination stress reduced creativity across all age groups. Adults also struggled with “deadline culture,” which impaired their ability to focus and think deeply.

“Children’s brain regions responsible for higher-order thinking are not yet fully developed, resulting in weaker emotional regulation compared to adolescents and adults,” Huang said. “As a result, children may not cope effectively with stress and are more sensitive to failure.”

She added that adolescents and adults often perceive competition as a challenge, with moderate pressure stimulating creativity. However, adults balancing multiple roles face stress from time management demands.

Huang emphasised the importance of creativity, calling it “one of the core abilities that people rely on to solve problems in daily learning, life, and work.” She noted that creativity is linked to mental health, with more creative individuals showing greater psychological flexibility under stress.

The study highlighted “Hong Kong-style stress” – examinations, noise and tight deadlines – as common obstacles. Huang said educators should reduce competitive pressure for children by limiting frequent evaluations and fostering supportive environments that encourage exploration. For adolescents and adults, workplace managers could harness healthy competition through peer review and collaboration, while institutions should set reasonable deadlines and avoid chronic overwork to allow space for deep thinking.