The Relationship between Depression, Self-Esteem, Happiness, and Creativity among High School Students

This study explored the mediating effects of self-esteem and happiness on the relationship between depression, self-esteem, happiness, and creativity among high school students. The goal was to provide insights for enhancing students' creativity. To achieve this, data from the 4th wave of the 2018 Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey were analyzed, covering a total of 2,265 high school students—1,217 males and 1,048 females. The data were examined using a structural equation model. The results of this study are as follows: First, depression positively influenced self-esteem, happiness, and creativity, while both self-esteem and happiness positively affected creativity. Second, self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between depression and creativity. Third, happiness also partially mediated the relationship between depression and creativity. This study is considered to be a meaningful investigation that empirically confirms the relationship between mental health and creativity. Furthermore, it could serve as a foundational resource for proposing strategies to enhance creativity among adolescents.