Researchers at Oregon State University unveiled a new study on the role of playfulness in helping individuals navigate tough times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, by effectively turning "lemons into lemonade." Xiangyou "Sharon" Shen, an assistant professor in the OSU College of Forestry and director of the Health, Environment and Leisure Research (HEAL) lab, along with her team, studied the concept of playfulness as an underappreciated resource for maintaining well-being and building resilience during challenging times.
In February 2021, 503 adults participated in a study about their behaviors and feelings during the pandemic, focusing on how personality traits, particularly playfulness, influence coping mechanisms. Participants rated their playfulness using the Adult Playfulness Trait Scale (APTS), which measures fun-seeking motivation, uninhibitedness, and spontaneity, to assess its impact on coping during crises. The scientists used the data to divide participants into quartiles based on how highly they rated for playfulness.
The researchers classified participants into high and low playfulness cohorts based on their APTS scores, excluding the middle 50% to make trait comparisons between distinct personality types. The survey targeted participants' experiences during the pandemic, including their perceptions of infection risk, social support, emotional responses, and outlook on the future. By comparing the most playful quartile to the least playful quartile, each consisting of 126 participants, they aimed to learn how playfulness affects perceptions and responses to the environment.
"With most of the population experiencing similar large-scale disruption, we were able to move beyond assumptions and determine the specific ways playfulness helps people navigate tough times," stated Shen. Both high and low playfulness groups reported feeling similar emotions during the pandemic, such as worry, isolation, and fear. However, more playful participants took more creative, active steps to cope, actively trying to change their situations and find substitutes for what was not possible.
Highly playful individuals engaged in more creative problem solving compared to less playful individuals. Shen noted that these playful individuals excelled at "lemonading," creatively imagining and pursuing the positive, discovering ways to create moments of joy even in difficult circumstances. "Their unique combination of realistic assessment and flexible problem solving emerged as a powerful formula, offering a vivid demonstration of how personality traits like playfulness shape our responses under stress," she explained.
The study found that highly playful individuals shared similar perceptions of risk and protective factors as their less playful peers but demonstrated greater optimism when envisioning future possibilities. "The more positive and playful people were just as realistic about COVID-19 risks and challenges as others—but they excelled at 'lemonading,'" emphasized Shen. "Playfulness doesn't distort reality—it enhances it," she added.
Understanding how playful people navigate adversity can inform interventions and strategies to help people cope with stress and uncertainty. "This is particularly relevant as we face increasing global challenges that require realistic assessment and creative adaptation," stated Shen. She noted that playfulness is a characteristic that people can develop, and while the study focused on measuring it, there are several approaches to cultivate this quality.
"You don't have to play to be playful. It's about bringing a spirit of fun, openness, and flexibility to everyday moments," said Shen. She encouraged engaging in activities that spark joy, being open to new experiences, and spending time with people who make you laugh. "Spending just 5 to 10 minutes a day on a small dose of play can make a meaningful difference," she added.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.