By Fiona CameronThursday 15 Apr 2021Mornings with FeeHealth and WellbeingReading Time: 2 minutes

A new research project intends to demonstrate that adults can increase their happiness, wellbeing, playfulness, play behaviours, and mental health through engaging in regular group play activities.

Mornings with Fiona caught up with psychologist and researcher Rosemary Colston about her new research project with the University of Sunshine Coast exploring the effects that play can have on happiness and wellbeing in adults. Listen to the full interview in the player above.

Who wants to play more?

Volunteers are needed for a research project called Happy Club which is investigating the effects of adult play on happiness and wellbeing. Happy Club is a free 10-week, facilitated play program for adults held on Thursdays, commencing April 22.

If you are over 18 and are available for the morning sessions at 10am at USC Sippy Downs or the afternoon sessions from 5.30pm at the Maroochydore Neighbourhood Centre then sign up to join the Happy Club. The games are designed to return the art of play to adults and so far the research has shown that it actually induces higher levels of personal happiness and contentment. Groups will consist of 5–15 people who are wanting to have good clean fun playing all sorts of games like “The Floor is Lava” through to board games like “Celebrity Head”, for 75–90 minutes for the sake of science.

For more information on the project visit uniofsunshinecoast.syd1.qualtrics.com.

Want to connect with the research team? Visit the Happy Club Australia Facebook page or email [email protected].

The details

Organisation: University of the Sunshine Coast

Contact: Rosemary Colston

Email Address: [email protected]

Location: Sippy Downs campus of USC

Website: Adult Play Research Facebook page

Phone Number: 0466 977 682

Date: 10am–11.20am on April 22, 2021