The nature of playfulness in young adults

Prior empirical evidence links adult playfulness with various indicators of well-being, including flow experiences, group cohesion, creativity, intrinsic motivation, quality of life, decreased computer anxiety, job satisfaction, performance, innovative behavior, and academic achievement.

“To name but a few, there is empirical evidence on relations of playfulness in adults with flow-experiences (Csikszentmihalyi 1975), enhanced group cohesion (Bowman 1987), creativity and spontaneity (Barnett 2007;Glynn andWebster 1992, 1993)”

Spontaneous behavior (assigned to gregariousness) was one of the facets identified by Barnett as one of the underlying components of playfulness.

“Spontaneous behavior (assigned to gregariousness) was one of the facets identified by Barnett (2007) as one of the underlying components of playfulness.”

The SMAP showed correlations in the expected direction and range with the need for play scale, the APS, and a list of adjectives based on Barnett's study, interpreted as support for convergent validity.

“Furthermore, he found correlations in the expected direction and range with the need for play scale of the Personality Research Form (Jackson, 1984), Glynn and Webster's (1992), (1993) Adult Playfulness Scale, and a total score out of a list of adjectives set together based on Barnett's (2007) study, which was interpreted as support for its convergent validity.”

The APS has been criticized in the literature as play in this conceptualization is seen as opposite of work on a single continuum and for psychometric shortcomings.

“Additionally, it needs to be acknowledged the APS has been criticized in the literature as play in this conceptualization is seen as opposite of work on a single continuum and for psychometric shortcomings (see e.g., Barnett 2007;Krueger 1995).”