An exploratory study of creativity and eating disorders.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Eating disorders (ED) are often associated with cognitive rigidity.
• The generalization of this cognitive rigidity to creative thinking remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if cognitive rigidity, characteristic of eating disorders, extends to creative abilities.
• To explore the relationship between disordered eating behaviors and creativity.

Main Methods:

• 112 university participants completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q).
• Participants reported any prior eating disorder diagnosis.
• A 3-minute alternative uses task (for a paper-clip) measured creative fluency, originality, elaboration, and flexibility.

Main Results:

• Lower cognitive flexibility was the sole predictor of a self-reported ED diagnosis.
• No significant association was found between creativity measures and EDE-Q global scores across the spectrum of disordered eating.

Conclusions:

• Findings align with prior research linking cognitive inflexibility and EDs.
• Evidence does not support the generalization of cognitive inflexibility to broader creativity.
• Results may inform Cognitive Remediation Therapy, warranting further investigation.