Frame for Fun

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Most Americans have heard this proverb asking those in a bad situation to look on the bright side.

Research shows that a positive attitude toward life’s hurdles can train the brain to focus on the good things and improve overall well-being.

Now, a new study has taken it further and found that approaching life situations playfully is even more effective in helping people cope with challenges.

To arrive at this conclusion, researchers surveyed a sample of 503 American adults to gauge their level of playfulness, asking them to rate it on a scale indicating their spontaneity, inhibitions, and motivation to seek fun. They then divided the sample into two groups representing high and  low levels of playfulness.

The study focused on people’s experiences during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2021. It used 19 variables to compare how playfulness helped reframe cognition, emotion, and behavior during the lockdown.

The survey asked participants how they perceived their infection risks, if they thought the situation would improve if they felt socially supported, and how they behaviorally and emotionally responded to the lockdown.

The results showed that playful people were more positive about the future and more confident in the vaccine’s effectiveness, expecting life to return to normal.

Meanwhile, instead of minimizing COVID-19 risks and ignoring the pandemic, playful people shifted their focus toward positive things, “illuminating potential paths forward even in dark times,” explained study author Xiangyou Shen.

According to this study, playfulness and resilience are connected through what the authors called “lemonading” – the creative ability to imagine positive outcomes and pursue enjoyable activities while remaining aware of life’s difficulties.

While both groups reported feelings of vulnerability and isolation, playful people showed flexibility and motivation to find fun within the limits of the lockdown.