Self-construal and creativity: The moderator effect of self-esteem

• Both interdependent and independent self-construals are beneficial to creativity.
• Independent self-construal is more conducive to creativity.
• Self-esteem is beneficial to creativity.
• Self-esteem plays a moderator role between self-construal and creativity.
• Self-esteem improves the effect of interdependent self-construal on creativity.

The study examined the effects of self-esteem and self-construal on creativity in a collectivist culture. Junior school students (n = 316) completed the Self-Construal Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Test of Divergent Feeling. Correlation and regression analyses showed that both interdependent and independent self-construals are beneficial to creativity, although independent self-construal is more conducive to creativity than interdependent self-construal; self-esteem is also beneficial to creativity; and, moreover, self-esteem has a moderator role between self-construal and creativity and can strengthen the positive impact of interdependent self-construal on creativity.