Journal of Neurodevelopmental Cognition
Quarterly Publication

Effects of Digital Technology Interventions on Creativity in Childhood and Adolescence: An Umbrella Review

https://doi.org/10.48308/jncog.2026.245948.1047

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 18 September 2026
Journal of Neurodevelopmental Cognition

Document Type : Review

Author

Elnaz Veisi

Department of Psychology and Education, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Objective: This umbrella review aimed to integrate the findings on the effects of digital technology interventions on creativity across childhood and adolescence, with a focus on the direction, magnitude, and consistency of findings within technology families, developmental patterns, outcome and measurement specificity, and intervention design and setting. This study provides an integrated account of which digital technology interventions appear beneficial for specific creativity outcomes, developmental stages, and implementation conditions.
Method: Scopus, ERIC, and Web of Science were searched from inception to August 2026 without search filters. Additionally, Google Scholar was searched as a supplementary source. Eligible reports were systematic reviews or meta-analyses with separable evidence for participants aged 0-18, an active digital component, and an explicit creativity outcome.
Results: 15 reviews, including 10 meta-analyses and five systematic reviews, were included. Digital interventions generally showed positive effects across technology families, although heterogeneity prevented a reliable ranking. Developmental patterns were inconsistent, and the evidence mainly focused on divergent-thinking outcomes. More favorable findings were generally reported for active and structured technology use; duration patterns differed across technologies and outcomes, while the only direct setting comparison, reported for educational robotics, favored classroom implementation.
Discussion: Digital technologies can support creativity in children and adolescents, but their effectiveness appears to depend on developmental fit, the targeted creativity outcome, and implementation conditions rather than the technology alone. These findings can guide the design of age-appropriate and outcome-specific interventions, while future studies should examine duration and setting more consistently.

Keywords

Creativity
Child
Adolescent
Digital Technology
Umbrella Review
  • Receive Date 15 August 2026
  • Revise Date 15 September 2026
  • Accept Date 18 September 2026

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