From Passion to Performance: The Roles of Engagement and Enjoyment in Enhancing Creativity of Chinese Music Major Students

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Bibliographic Details
Title: From Passion to Performance: The Roles of Engagement and Enjoyment in Enhancing Creativity of Chinese Music Major Students
Language: English
Authors: Yiwen Liu (ORCID 0009-0008-6620-5136), Changxuan Du (ORCID 0009-0008-3980-1266)
Source: European Journal of Education. 2026 61(1).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, College Students, Majors (Students), Music Education, Student Attitudes, Learner Engagement, Creativity, Creative Development, Psychological Patterns, Teaching Methods
Geographic Terms: China
DOI: 10.1111/ejed.70511
ISSN: 0141-8211
1465-3435
Abstract: Creativity is a critical yet underexplored competency among Chinese music major students, particularly in relation to psychological constructs such as engagement and enjoyment. To address this gap, the present study proposed a parallel mediation model to examine the relationships between engagement, enjoyment (including personal enjoyment, social enjoyment, and teacher appreciation), and creativity, drawing on the frameworks of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and the Componential Theory of Creativity. Using SEM analysis on questionnaire data collected from 922 music major students across China, the study revealed that engagement was significantly and positively associated with all three dimensions of enjoyment, each with a strong path coefficient. Furthermore, engagement directly predicted creativity with a moderate effect, independent of enjoyment. Among the three dimensions of enjoyment, only teacher appreciation exhibited a statistically significant, though modest, positive effect on creativity. The findings suggested that while engagement fosters creativity directly, enjoyment plays a partial and dimension-specific mediating role. The study contributed to a deeper understanding of how psychological factors shape creative development in music education and offers pedagogical insights for instructors seeking to enhance student creativity through engagement and emotionally supportive teaching practices.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1497856
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Creativity is a critical yet underexplored competency among Chinese music major students, particularly in relation to psychological constructs such as engagement and enjoyment. To address this gap, the present study proposed a parallel mediation model to examine the relationships between engagement, enjoyment (including personal enjoyment, social enjoyment, and teacher appreciation), and creativity, drawing on the frameworks of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and the Componential Theory of Creativity. Using SEM analysis on questionnaire data collected from 922 music major students across China, the study revealed that engagement was significantly and positively associated with all three dimensions of enjoyment, each with a strong path coefficient. Furthermore, engagement directly predicted creativity with a moderate effect, independent of enjoyment. Among the three dimensions of enjoyment, only teacher appreciation exhibited a statistically significant, though modest, positive effect on creativity. The findings suggested that while engagement fosters creativity directly, enjoyment plays a partial and dimension-specific mediating role. The study contributed to a deeper understanding of how psychological factors shape creative development in music education and offers pedagogical insights for instructors seeking to enhance student creativity through engagement and emotionally supportive teaching practices.
ISSN:0141-8211
1465-3435
DOI:10.1111/ejed.70511