“New Study Uncovers Surprising Impact of Positivity Crisis”
Shen, an assistant professor in the College of Forestry at OSU and director of the Health, Environment and Leisure Research (HEAL) lab, emphasized the importance of understanding how individuals who maintain a playful mindset navigate challenges. She stated, “Insight into how playful individuals tackle adversity can guide interventions and strategies to help others cope with stress and uncertainty.” This is especially pertinent given the growing global challenges that demand realistic evaluation and innovative adaptation, as highlighted by SWNS.
Addressing chronic stress as a significant public health issue, Shen explained its connection to various health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, depression, and anxiety. Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst at Fox News and a clinical professor at NYU Langone Medical Center, shared insights on the study, noting that humor, love, and expressions of happiness can trigger the release of oxytocin in the brain, a hormone associated with positive effects on blood pressure, stress levels, and overall health.
Siegel highlighted the neurological impact of positive emotions on the brain’s centers responsible for processing fear, anxiety, and joy. He emphasized the impossibility of experiencing both positive and negative emotions simultaneously, with positive emotions being more beneficial for overall well-being. Drawing lessons from individuals who displayed creativity during the pandemic, Siegel praised their ability to infuse joy and quality into daily activities.
Shen and researcher Zoe Crawley from the HEAL lab conducted a study involving over 500 U.S. adults, dividing them into two groups based on their levels of playfulness. Participants with higher playfulness levels, as measured by the Adult Playfulness Trait Scale, exhibited greater optimism, engaged in creative problem-solving, and infused enjoyment into their daily routines compared to their less playful counterparts.
Highlighting the transformative power of playfulness in navigating challenges, Shen stressed that playful individuals were adept at altering difficult situations, finding creative solutions, and maintaining a sense of control over their responses. While highly playful individuals did not necessarily engage in different activities or more frequent activities than less playful individuals, they experienced these activities with higher quality and positive emotions.
In essence, the study suggests that playfulness enhances reality rather than distorting it, enabling individuals to find joy in everyday experiences and approach obstacles as opportunities for growth.
Shen stated, “and it is intimately connected with resilience.” The researchers mentioned that even dedicating just 5 to 10 minutes a day to “a small dose of play” can lead to a significant impact. Shen highlighted that individuals who maintained a positive and playful attitude were equally aware of the risks and challenges posed by COVID-19, but excelled at ‘lemonading.’ For more Health articles, you can visit www.foxnews.com/health. They were able to identify ways to generate moments of joy even amidst challenging circumstances. Shen stated, “Playfulness does not distort reality — it enriches it.” According to her, regularly allocating time for play can be crucial. She pointed out that it offers a secure environment to demonstrate and cultivate playfulness. The researchers reiterated that spending only 5 to 10 minutes a day engaging in “a small dose of play” can yield a significant difference. The original article source is: Positive people came through COVID much better than others: new study.
