Creativity Outcomes Among Adolescents Across Psycho-Physiological States Using the Divergent Production Abilities (DPA) Test

Abstract

Creativity is an essential cognitive ability during adolescence, supporting problem-solving, academic development, and emotional regulation. The present study examines variations in creativity across psycho-physiological states, gender, and area of residence among adolescents. A total of 400 adolescents aged 13–19 years from Maharashtra were selected using a simple random sampling technique and equally distributed across psycho-physiological state (normal/neurotic), gender (male/female), and area (urban/rural). Creativity was assessed using the Divergent Production Abilities (DPA) Test developed by K. N. Sharma, which measures multiple dimensions of divergent thinking. The results indicated that adolescents with a normal psycho-physiological state demonstrated significantly higher creativity scores (M = 202.25) compared to those with neurotic tendencies (M = 157.75). Urban adolescents showed higher creativity (M = 188.25) than rural adolescents (M = 171.25), while gender differences were not significant. A three-way factorial ANOVA revealed significant main effects of psycho-physiological state and area of residence, whereas gender and interaction effects were non-significant. The study concludes that psycho-physiological stability plays a critical role in enhancing creativity among adolescents and highlights the importance of integrating mental health support within educational settings.