Exploring the sleep quality-creativity relationship: a moderated mediation analysis of positive emotions and psychological capital

BACKGROUND: Previous research on the relationship between sleep and creativity has focused primarily on biological and cognitive mechanisms, with relatively insufficient attention given to positive psychology perspectives. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 926 Chinese college students (425 males and 501 females) to assess their sleep quality, positive emotions, psychological capital, and creativity. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), positive emotions were assessed with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), psychological capital was evaluated using the Positive Psychological Capital Scale (PCQ), and creativity was measured with the Williams Creative Aptitude Test (CAT). Structural equation modelling was employed to analyse the mediating effect of positive emotions between sleep quality and creativity, as well as the moderating effect of psychological capital. RESULTS: The results revealed that sleep quality was significantly and positively associated with college students’ levels of creativity (β = 0.130, p < 0.001). Sleep quality was significantly and positively related to college students’ creativity through positive emotions (β = 0.023, 95% CI [0.00, 0.04]). Psychological capital significantly moderated both the path from sleep quality to positive emotions (interaction β = 0.126, 95% CI [0.07, 0.18]) and the direct path from sleep quality to creativity (interaction β = 0.066, 95% CI [0.00, 0.13]). CONCLUSION: These findings extend the understanding of the mechanisms through which sleep quality influences creativity from a positive psychology perspective and provide practical intervention pathways for colleges to enhance students’ creativity.