The correlates of playfulness in adults

Play is an enjoyable process characterized by intrinsic motivation, lack of goal orientation, loss of self-consciousness, fluid meaning of self and objects, and which is differentiated from "real life." Despite extensive literature on play among children, little research literature exists on psychometric properties of adult playfulness. This study examined the correlations between playfulness and affect, perceived stress, attachment style, well-being, self-transcendence, and personality factors in adults.;Based on play theory and empirical literature, it was hypothesized that there would be significant positive correlations between playfulness and extroversion, openness to experience, positive affect, and satisfaction with life, and significant negative correlations between playfulness and neuroticism, negative affect, attachment avoidance, attachment anxiety, and perceived stress.;In total 121 participants completed the survey in this research. Participants were predominantly female (n = 93), white (n = 97), and lived in California (n = 44, of the 78 who reported a state of residence). Participant ages ranged from 21 to 63. Most participants were recruited and completed the assessments online.;The instruments used were the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, the Playfulness Scale for Adults, the Adult Self-Transcendence Inventory, and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory.;Demographic data were analyzed for significant playfulness differences. This research found that females scored significantly higher on playfulness than males. Some significant differences in playfulness were also found between racial and/or ethnic groups.;All hypothesized positive correlations were supported by the data with the exception of the hypothesized correlation between playfulness and life satisfaction. All hypothesized negative correlations were supported by the data with exception of playfulness with attachment avoidance. These findings and recommendations for future research are discussed including the importance of sensitivity to gender and race or ethnicity when employing play therapy techniques.