Everyday Creativity in Times of COVID-19: A Qualitative Study from Argentina

Abstract

The main objective was to study creative processes in isolation by COVID-19. We analyzed, from the participants’ perspective, activities, emotions, and motivations linked to everyday creativity in quarantine. The study was carried out between March 27 and April 12, 2020, in Argentina, during Social and Preventive Isolation by COVID-19. The sample included 302 men and women who lived in different provinces in Argentina: Córdoba, Buenos Aires, San Luis, La Pampa, and San Juan. The participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 77 years. All participants answered an online questionnaire with open-ended questions. We analyzed textual data, images, and videos with ATLAS.TI8. From qualitative analyses, we elaborated four categories: With things we had at home: creative activities in isolation; Alone, but not so alone; Being and feeling in isolation; Creativity, motivations, and quarantine. The results indicated that most participants carried out various creative activities in quarantine. These activities generated positive emotions and allowed to face negative emotions related to the pandemic. The motivations had been varied, although reasons related to enjoyment, coping, and sharing with other people are predominant. Apparent paradoxes arise from the analysis of everyday creativity in the time of COVID-19. The knowledge produced in the study can contribute to formulate psychological interventions and public health policies during a pandemic.

Creative Processes and Emotions in Covid-19 Pandemic

“…In the previous study (Elisondo & Melgar, 2020), no difficulties were observed in the labour and economic sphere, only changes in the work practices of some participants (remote activities, virtual classes, etc.). In the present study, work and the economic situation appeared as a relevant category that significantly changes people's lives in times of COVID-19 pandemic.…”

“…Solidarity practices that transcend the home and seek to help vulnerable groups also appeared among the expressions of the participants. In the previous study (Elisondo & Melgar, 2020), solidarity practices linked to the prevention of COVID-19 pandemic (guards, making masks, etc.) had been observed, in the present study there were solidarity actions linked to need to feed vulnerable groups: "We are always looking for alternatives and creative ways to feed more people in the NGO, we change the recipes, we seek collaboration in the markets, and we create our own garden […]" (Susana).…”

“…The participants were selected from the sample of the previous study (Elisondo & Melgar, 2020), by non-probabilistic convenience sampling considering the diversity of ages, geographic areas of residence and occupations. All the people who expressed interest in participating again were selected.…”

“…Obstacles and emotions linked to creative processes were also the object of analysis in the study. The participants were selected from a previous study that was conducted in the first weeks (April, 2020) of confinement in Argentina (Elisondo & Melgar, 2020). In Elisondo and Melgar (2020) we analyzed, from the participants' perspective, activities, emotions, and motivations linked to everyday creativity in total confinement.…”

“…The participants were selected from a previous study that was conducted in the first weeks (April, 2020) of confinement in Argentina (Elisondo & Melgar, 2020). In Elisondo and Melgar (2020) we analyzed, from the participants' perspective, activities, emotions, and motivations linked to everyday creativity in total confinement. The sample included 302 men and women, the participants' ages ranged from 18 to 77 years.…”