Obstacles to Personal Creativity among University Students

Abstract

This study examined personal obstacles to creativity among 385 university students. The Obstacles to Personal Creativity Inventory was administered to this sample. This instrument focuses on several factors that may block the expression of personal creativity. The results showed that the highest mean was observed in the factor labeled Lack of Time/Opportunity, followed by Inhibition/Shyness. Significant differences in means values were observed among male and female, and private and public university students. The male students ' mean was higher in the factor labeled Lack of Motivation, while the Social Repression's mean was higher for female students. The private university students presented higher means in two clusters of obstacles: Inhibition/Shyness and Lack of Opportunity. The results point to several obstacles to personal creativity, which are common among university students. These obstacles should be known by those involved in education for them to help students to be less susceptible to obstacles that hinder their creativity.