The Influence of Age, Regional Context, and Measurement Tools on Children’s Creativity: Insights From a Cross-Regional Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis investigated creativity differences between urban and rural children, examining the moderating effects of age, regional context, and measurement tools. Studies were systematically selected based on explicit inclusion criteria, which required peer-reviewed publication between 2003 and 2023, clear operational definitions of urban and rural populations, and the use of standardized or validated measures of creativity. Analysis of 22 studies (2003–2023) encompassing 76,082 participants revealed a small-to-moderate overall effect size ( d = 0.376, 95% CI [0.301, 1.054]) with no significant differences between urban and rural settings ( t = 0.82, p = .42). Age emerged as a significant moderator, with children aged 11 to 12 years showing the highest effect sizes ( d = 12.06). Regional variations were substantial, with studies from the United States ( d = 11.75) and Canada ( d = 5.19) demonstrating larger effects than other regions. The Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking yielded the highest measurement tool effect sizes ( d = 6.66). High heterogeneity ( I 2 = 99.43%) suggested substantial variability due to methodological and contextual differences. These findings challenge geographical determinism in creative development and emphasize the need for age-appropriate, culturally sensitive approaches to creativity assessment in educational settings.