Cognitive Flexibility and Creativity in Athletes

Year 2026, Volume: 31 Issue: 1 , 30 - 38 , 30.03.2026

Nazlı Can İnci , Anıl Türkeli

https://doi.org/10.53434/gbesbd.1835127

https://izlik.org/JA44MY62HW

Abstract

This study aims to examine the levels of cognitive flexibility and creativity among individual and team athletes in relation to various variables and to determine the relationship between these two concepts. A correlational survey model was employed, and the study group consisted of 583 athletes (274 women, 309 men) who had been actively participating in different sports branches for at least three years. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Athlete Cognitive Flexibility Inventory, and the Creativity Scale for Athletes. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, Pearson correlation, and regression analyses were used in the analysis process. The findings revealed no significant differences in cognitive flexibility or creativity levels based on gender. Team athletes scored higher on the control sub-dimension of cognitive flexibility. Additionally, national athletes and those who engaged in mental training demonstrated higher scores in certain sub-dimensions of cognitive flexibility as well as in creativity, with small to moderate effect sizes (Cohen’s d= 0.18–0.32). Both age and sporting age showed positive correlations with cognitive flexibility and creativity, indicating that increased experience contributes to the development of these abilities. Weekly training frequency, however, was significantly related only to creativity levels. Furthermore, a strong and positive correlation was found between cognitive flexibility and creativity, suggesting that athletes with greater cognitive adaptability tend to produce more creative responses in sport-related contexts (r= .66, p< .001; R²= .436). Overall, the study concludes that cognitive flexibility and creativity are closely interconnected and influenced by factors such as athletic level, engagement in mental training, and experience in sport.

Keywords

Cognitive flexibility , Creativity , Individual sport , Team sports

Ethical Statement

This study was ethically approved by the decision of the Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University Ethics Committee dated 29/08/2024 and numbered 07-08/02.

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