From empathy to creative output: Exploring the emotional–cognitive mechanisms of digital creativity

Tianshu Li¹Qizhe Zhao¹Na Yang^2*Yaocheng Tian³Zhenwen Zheng⁴Zhixin Guo⁵Caisheng Liao^6*

• ¹City University of Macau, Taipa, Macao, SAR China
• ²Baise University, Baise, China
• ³Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Museum, Nanning, China
• ⁴Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
• ⁵Nanning Normal University, Nanning, China
• ⁶Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan

The rapid advancement of digital technologies has reshaped how creativity is fostered, especially in fields such as education, business, and the creative industries. However, the mechanisms behind digital creativity remain underexplored, particularly regarding the roles of emotional and cognitive factors. Among these factors, empathy has long been considered a key driver of creativity; however, it remains unclear whether this mechanism still applies in digital environments. Guided by self-determination theory, this study proposes and tests an integrative model linking digital empathy, cognitive flexibility, digital self-efficacy, and digital creativity. Two complementary studies were conducted: a quasi-experimental study with university students and a survey with employees in digital workplaces. Structural equation modeling shows that digital empathy does not directly predict digital creativity but enhances it indirectly through cognitive flexibility. Digital self-efficacy strengthens the link between empathy and flexibility, amplifying this indirect effect. These results provide empirical evidence consistent with an emotional–cognitive pathway associated with digital creativity and suggest that empathy may function as a cognitively relevant factor rather than solely as an emotional response. By integrating emotion, cognition, and competence within a unified framework, this research extends existing creativity theory to digital contexts and offers practical insights for fostering innovation in educational and organizational settings.