Healthy aging is reflected in well-being, participation, playfulness, and cognitive-emotional functioning

Abstract

An aging population generates an array of social and health concerns, among which is the psychological and cognitive well-being of the elderly. Recently, the focus in gerontology has expanded from the avoidance of agerelated decline to the promotion of healthy aging. Factors such as cognitive and emotional status are considered to be potential contributors to well-being, and to participation in the community. This paper discusses the possible contribution of another factor -a person's playfulness -to healthy aging. Playfulness is a multidimensional concept that describes the mental propensity to engage in playful behavior, and includes properties such as fun-seeking motivation, uninhibitedness, and spontaneity. Research suggests that playfulness facilitates healing, improves morale, and increases motivation. Thus, it can be speculated that playfulness relates to other indicators of well-being, including psychological, cognitive, and physical aspects. Studies of the concept of playfulness mostly pertain to its measurement in young adults, with a paucity of research on older adult playfulness. In addition, the majority of research on Americans' health is "negative or disease-oriented," particularly in studies of older adults. There is compelling evidence that positive factors in individuals' lives, such as favorable emotions, happiness, life satisfaction, and quality of life relate intimately to healthy aging. Playfulness might be an important characteristic of cognitive functioning and emotional growth, which are both key components of healthy aging. This paper discusses the relationship and possible contribution of the concept of playfulness to the various indicators of healthy aging.

Playback theatre in adult day centers: A creative group intervention for community-dwelling older adults

“…Fourth, thus far, only a few papers have related to the healing potential of playfulness in old age [31,116]. Our findings, together with those of other preliminary studies [116,117], indicate the need for future research to explore such interventions that involve playfulness and improvised acting in old age [31,32]. Fifth, future research should inquire into the experience of the aging body in the realm of the creative theatrical process.…”

“…Playing is a central human experience that gives meaning to life [30], and unscripted imaginary play is a basic component of creativity, in which the authentic self is enabled to emerge [32]. The scarce literature on playfulness in old age indicates that it is associated with healthy aging and well-being [31, [33][34][35].…”

A Lifetime of Play: Group Medical Clowning with Older Adults

“…the predisposition to frame (or reframe) a situation in such a way as to provide oneself (and possibly others) with amusement, humor, and/or entertainment." Indeed, playfulness is an important component of healthy aging in older adults [30,31], it is positively related to happiness [32], and it contributes to their mental and emotional wellbeing [33]. Tere are various ways to make older adults play actively and become playful, from play therapy, which helps to resolve psychosocial difculties [34], to therapeutic play, which generates emotional dialog [35]; from playful physical exercise, which moves the body and helps with loosening up [36], to video gameplay, solving cognitive and creative challenges [37].…”

Play provides social connection for older adults with serious mental illness: A grounded theory analysis of a 10-week exergame intervention

“…In 2015, a group of researchers proposed that playfulness and play should be incorporated into the concept of wellbeing as adults age (Waldman-Levi, Bar-Haim, Katz, 2015). They suggest that play and playfulness may help to increase feelings of empowerment, selfefficacy, and positive self-concept and thereby contribute to overall wellbeing in older age groups (Waldman-Levi, Bar-Haim, Katz, 2015). However, much of what is known about the psychology and sociology of play and playfulness comes from research among children.…”