Comparing the Aha! experience to resilience in innovation performance predicted by creative self-efficacy

According to regulatory focus theory, the Aha! experience and resilience represent two distinct psychological states that influence creative performance. However, limited research has explored how these states emerge and function in the context of youth innovation. To address this gap, the present study investigated participants in the Taiwan Youth Innovation Exhibition, an annual competition that selects top projects to advance to the International Exhibition for Young Inventors. The study examined how creative self-efficacy (CSE) predicts both the Aha! experience and resilience, and how these states mediate the relationship between CSE and innovation performance. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was conducted using data collected from student participants. Results indicated that all hypothesized relationships were supported: CSE positively predicted both the Aha! experience and resilience, and both in turn significantly predicted innovation performance. These findings suggest that encouraging students to cultivate Aha! moments and develop psychological resilience may enhance their creative outcomes in innovation-based competitions.