Family environment and creativity in fashion design students

This study examined relationships among environmental influences and creativity of individuals majoring in fashion design at four-year universities. The framework was confluence theory which holds that multiple components must connect in order for creativity to occur. Participants from 10 universities completed electronic surveys designed to gather data on creativity, family background, and demographic information. Findings revealed: (1) exposure to media such as art and literature was positively correlated with creativity; (2) parental encouragement was positively correlated with creativity; (3) access to electronic media (i.e. television, computers, and Internet) was negatively correlated with creativity; (4) lessons (e.g. in sports, music, dance, cooking, or childcare) were negatively correlated with creativity; and (5) available space to create, explore, and experiment was negatively correlated with creativity. This information contributes to the existing knowledge on creativity. Parents and instructors may use this information to help develop and enhance creativity of their children/students.