A latent profile analysis of creativity: Associations of convergent and divergent thinking with subclinical schizotypal, obsessive-compulsive, and affective symptoms.

Creativity is a complex phenomenon, involving both divergent (i.e., generative) and convergent (i.e., consolidative) thinking. Understanding creativity in relation to psychological disorders has implications for coping with symptoms and fostering well-being. While many studies have considered creativity in association with specific diagnoses, no study to date has taken a broad multidiagnostic approach to studying creativity. Moreover, there is a need to account for relationships of multidiagnostic symptoms with both convergent and divergent thinking processes. We aimed to address these limitations by measuring convergent and divergent thinking using behavioral paradigms in a large, nonclinical sample (N = 536). Participants reported symptoms of schizotypy, mania, obsessions and compulsions, depression, and anxiety on dimensional measures. Latent variable regression and latent profile analysis were used to capture the relationship of divergent and convergent thinking with clinical symptoms. Latent profile analysis revealed 4 classes of individuals based on high and low levels of convergent and divergent thinking abilities. These classes were distinguishable on the basis of schizotypal and affective symptoms, F(51, 1425) = 1.73, p = .001, but not obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Most notably, individuals with high convergent and divergent thinking reported the highest average levels of positive schizotypal symptoms, the lowest average levels of negative schizotypal symptoms, and the highest well-being. In line with the notion of healthy schizotypy, these findings suggest a link of lower-level positive schizotypal features not only with generative and consolidative creative processes, but also adaptive functioning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)