How do Play Streets impact the psychosocial health of participants, organisers, and communities? A mixed-methods evaluation of Play Streets held in South Australia
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5016963 |
|---|---|
| Authors | B Cramer (0009-0002-8552-7540, Macquarie University, corresponding author), Erica Randle (0000-0001-8760-1738, La Trobe University), Heidi Little (0000-0002-2376-2601, Macquarie University), Josephine Chau (0000-0001-6261-2545, Macquarie University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 194-215 |
| Publication date | 2025-04-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Play (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2159-4937 • E-ISSN: 2159-4953 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/21594937.2025.2508655 |
| OpenAlex | W4412028094 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 58 |
Australian adults are experiencing a reduction in community connectedness, and loneliness across all age groups is increasing. A Play Street is a simple concept whereby quiet residential streets are temporarily opened primarily to promote play among children, but they also provide an opportunity for parents and adult community members to connect and socialise. This study aimed to explore the use of Play Streets in generating social connectedness among parents and adult community members, and explore the experience of organiser stress during the organisational process of Play Streets held in South Australia, Australia. Survey responses ( N = 24) from volunteer Play Street organisers were analysed, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with Play Street organisers ( n = 12), participants ( n = 2), and local government staff ( n = 2) responsible for the intervention. Play Streets were found to offer numerous psychological and social benefits to adult community members, particularly those who were disconnected or predisposed to psychological strain. Organisers were more likely to experience stress during the organisational process if they felt unsupported or uncertain, but this could be mitigated through local government support or neighbour collaboration. This research has implications for using and implementing play based, local neighbourhood interventions to improve community wellbeing and connection
Geography · Multimethodology · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Social science · Sociology · Children's Rights and Participation · Early Childhood Education and Development · Homelessness and Social Issues · Medicine · Psychology · Gerontology
Empowerment
Using second-person neuroscience to elucidate the mechanisms of social interaction
How Do Simple Positive Activities Increase Well-Being?
Social capital and health
Social Interactions and Well-Being
Mistakenly seeking solitude.
Research and scholarly methods
An Emotion‐Based Model of Risk Perception and Stigma Susceptibility
Chapter 4 Affect as a Psychological Primitive
The Major Health Implications of Social Connection
Systematic methodological review
Self and Social Identity
Antecedents of frustration in crowd work and the moderating role of autonomy
Loneliness from young adulthood to old age
Creativity and Well‐being
Promoting Mental Health and Community Participation
The Effects of Play Streets on Social and Community Connectedness in Rural Communities
Navigating Neighbourhood Opposition and Climate Change
Emotional experiences and psychological well-being in 51 countries during the Covid-19 pandemic
The power of social connection and support in improving health
Social engagement pattern, health behaviors and subjective well-being of older adults
Community‐based responses to loneliness in older people
The Essentials of Social Cohesion
Triangulation and Mixed Methods Research
Built environment and social well-being
Creating neighborhood recreational space for youth and children in the urban environment
Mixed Methods Research
Evidence that loneliness can be reduced by a whole-of-community intervention to increase neighbourhood identification
The Hantown Street Play Project
Mechanisms Linking Social Ties and Support to Physical and Mental Health
Loneliness Loves Company, Some More than Others
The theory of empowerment
Measures of Social Isolation
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |