All work and no play: A structured play program to improve adult wellbeing

The importance of play for childhood development has long been recognized, but its benefits for adults have received far less attention. Play remains crucial throughout the lifespan due to the significant role it plays in predicting adult wellbeing; and as global happiness continues to decline, the need for affordable and accessible wellbeing interventions have never been greater. This study aimed to investigate the wellbeing benefits of a structured one-hour play program in a sample of 15 teachers and parents aged 28 to 58 years from a primary school community in metropolitan Melbourne. Jugar Life, a play program with activities focussing on evidence-based principles of laughter, social interaction, and flow, collaborated with this research. Using a quantitative pre-experimental within-subjects pre-test/post-test research design, participants completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the Subjective Vitality Scale, and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, immediately before and after the program. The results of dependent samples t-tests indicated large and significant increases in positive affect, subjective vitality, and state mindfulness, in addition to decreases in negative affect. These preliminary findings aim to generate interest in the further development of the play program and ignite broader research into the often overlooked, yet fascinating field of adult play.