Playing for Resilience in a Pandemic; Exploring the Role of an Online Board Game in Recognising Resources

Article


Maresch, I. and Kampman, H. 2023. Playing for Resilience in a Pandemic; Exploring the Role of an Online Board Game in Recognising Resources. International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology. 8, pp. 45-77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-022-00069-z
AuthorsMaresch, I. and Kampman, H.
Abstract

In the current climate of Covid-19 and world-wide social distancing, the mental health toll has been widely reported, with an expectation that the negative impact will last beyond the lockdowns. Facing the prospect of an unknown future and continuing challenges, resilience is both topical and necessary. With a call for digitally delivered interventions to help people affected by the pandemic, this study explores how playing an online positive psychology-informed board game supported people to recognise resources for resilience. Sixteen multi-national participants played in groups of 3–4 and qualitative data, collected via focus groups, was analysed using Thematic Analysis. Participants described a broadening of resources, primarily through reflecting on and remembering prior strategies and successes. Four themes are identified which, it is suggested, facilitated this in a sequential, upward spiral; the game mechanisms (release), psychological safety (reflect), meaningful conversations (remember) and anchoring of prior experiences (reuse). Critically, this study suggests that psychological safety may have been amplified by the online environment, which participants suggested enabled them to engage without interruption or inhibition. Additionally, whilst not part of the original intervention, the post-game reflection played an essential role in meaning-making and transferring learning into real-life. Future research into how online environments might not just facilitate but augment interventions is recommended. Finally, this study calls for further research into the impact of playful positive psychology interventions, suggesting a potential development of ‘serious play’ towards ‘seriously positive play’.

JournalInternational Journal of Applied Positive Psychology
Journal citation8, pp. 45-77
ISSN2364-5040
Year2023
PublisherSpringer
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Anyone
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-022-00069-z
Publication dates
Online13 Aug 2022
PrintDec 2023
Publication process dates
Accepted22 Jun 2022
Deposited20 Sep 2022
Copyright holder® 2022 The Authors
Additional information

This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41042-022-00069-z

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