創造力怎樣成為老年人的生存能量與美德

The present study investigated if taking parting in collaborative creativity training could enhance creativity and problem solving in older adults. Participants included 74 healthy older adults aged between 60 and 87 with a median age of 72 participating in a community collaborative creativity and arts program. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups (39 persons in the Experimental Group and 35 persons in the Control Group). Participants in the Experimental Group were further randomized to form 2 classes. The 10-session training was jointly hosted by the research team (4 sessions focus on problem solving) and a professional art facilitating group specialized in providing arts workshop (6 sessions focus on visual arts). An additional 1 session for pre-test was held at the beginning and 1 session for post-test after the 10th session. After controlling for the cognitive abilities as measured by Raven’s Progressive Matrices (RPM), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) as well age, gender and educational attainment, significant differences were found in the figural creativity scores assessed by the Test for Creative Thinking – Drawing Production (TCT-DP, Urban & Jellen, 1996), and problem solving ability measured by the Everyday Problem Solving Inventory (EPSI, Cornelius & Caspi, 1987). The program design on themes of “Tree of Life” and “Cycle of Water” had integrated key concepts related to positive psychology, such as contentment with the past, happiness in the present, and hope for the future. These themes have also emerged in the creative products. Implications on enhancing creative abilities and engaging older adults in community and collaborative creative arts activities will also be discussed.