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Abstract
The focus of this study was to investigate the relationship between adolescent playfulness, the perception of daily stressors and the coping strategies engaged by adolescents within the context of school and leisure. A mixed method approach was used including semi-structured interviews, scales and survey questionnaires. Two hundred ninety adolescents' ages 12 to 19 participated in the study. Results suggest that playful teens are less prone to experience stress of a personal nature or in relation to their peers. Yet they were more prone to experience stress concerning their future or their parents' future. A number of contextual variations were identified. Playfulness as a personality disposition had significant predictive value pertaining to the adolescents' leisure experience, the perception of daily stressors and overall well being. No significant differences across gender or coping mechanisms (active, internal, and withdrawal) were observed. Contrary to previous assumptions, high playful and low playful teens appear to engage in very similar coping processes for very similar stressors, thus playfulness has a low predictability in terms of adolescent coping. Practical implications of this study are discussed.