[The importance of playfulness in occupational therapy with adult clients].
BACKGROUND: As there is little documentation pertaining to playfulness in adults, its therapeutic potential remains uncertain. PURPOSE AND METHODOLOGY: A qualitative approach was used in order to develop a conceptual model of playfulness in adults and to discuss its potential uses in occupational therapy. RESULTS: The model identifies the influential sources and the consequences of playfulness in adults. The identified consequences support both the privileged intervention in occupational therapy, in other words, the meaningful activity, and the objectives of the intervention, those which include being the capacity to act, health and well-being. For these reasons, the proposed model presents interesting potential for occupational therapy intervention. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This conceptual model presents a unique and innovative vision of playfulness in adults that could offer a new perspective on meaningful activity. It suggests that playfulness could become an important tool in occupational therapy in developing the capacity to act. Consequently, the model proposes an innovative client-based approach.