Playful leisure design: A study on the intersection of play, work and leisure among dual-earner couples

Abstract

Can play at work ripple into healthier, more engaged lives? Grounded in the Work–Home Resources model and spillover perspective, this study develops a model to examine the contextual conditions (when) and mechanisms (how) that connect playful work design (PWD) to health-related outcomes—that is, healthy eating motives and self-care. We introduce and validate the novel concept of playful leisure design (PLD), which captures proactive strategies to infuse leisure with fun and competition. A pilot study established the construct validity of PLD. Using a 15-day diary study with 65 dual-earner couples across the United States (resulting in 910 matched surveys), our findings reveal that PWD positively influences healthy eating motives and self-care through PLD. We also examine the role of individuals' motivation for healthiness as a potential boundary condition. This study contributes to the conversations in playful work design and work–leisure literature by showing how proactive and playful behaviours across domains contribute to resource building and employee well-being.