CREATIVE-THINKING AS A PREDICTOR OF SCHOOL-AGED CHILDRENS STRESS RESPONSES AND COPING ABILITIES

Sixty 9-12 year-old children were administered the verbal and figural portions of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT; Form A) and the Stress Impact Scale. An observational rating scale of coping beha vior, the Coping Inventory, was also completed for each child in the s chool setting by trained observers, and the Stress Response Scale was completed by mothers. Age and several TTCT figural indicators of creat ive thinking, including fluency, originality, elaboration, and resista nce to premature closure, were strongly associated with coping abiliti es. Resistance to premature closure as measured on the figural portion of the TTCT was most predictive of coping abilities and fewer overall problematic responses to stress as reported by mothers.