The association between cognitive flexibility and creativity across childhood and adolescence: a scoping review

Abstract

This scoping review synthesizes evidence on the association between cognitive flexibility and creativity across childhood and adolescence. Drawing on empirical studies of individuals aged 0-18 years, the review examines how cognitive flexibility and creativity have been defined and measured, whether the two constructs are associated, and whether this association differs across developmental stages. The reviewed studies show substantial methodological variation, with many reporting positive associations, especially when cognitive flexibility is treated as a higher-level, multifaceted construct and creativity is assessed with traditional creativity measures. The findings suggest that creativity may depend more on strategic, idea-integrating forms of flexibility than on narrow rule-switching ability, while highlighting the need for clearer developmental and methodological frameworks.