title: The association between playfulness and coping in adolescents.
abstract: This study investigated the relationship between playfulness and coping skills in adolescent males both typically developing (TD) and with severe emotional disturbance (SED). Thirty male adolescents (16 TD, 14 with SED) ranging in ages from 14 to 17 years comprised two groups. Each participant was scored on the Test of Playfulness (ToP) (Bundy, 1998) and on the Coping Inventory (Zeitlin, 1985). A significant positive correlation (r = .785; p < .01) was discovered to exist between the adolescents' level of playfulness and their coping skills. Point biserial correlations, between group (TD and SED) and the ToP scores (r = .889; p < .0001) and between group and ABIs (Coping Inventory) (r = .873; p < .0001), revealed that these adolescents came from two distinct groups. As expected, TD adolescents were rated as more playful than those with SED and scored higher in effective coping skills. This study has implications for occupational therapy intervention with adolescents. High correlations between playfulness and coping support the idea of using play and playfulness to improve coping skills particularly the ability to adapt and to approach problems and goals in a flexible manner.
authors.affiliation: VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
authors.forename: Louise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Anita C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bundy
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D010988:Play and Playthings; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent