Effects of Playing Exergames on Quality of Life among Young Adults: A 12-Week Randomized Controlled Trial

Effectiveness of applied and casual games for young people's mental health: A systematic review of randomised controlled studies

Many youth experience mental health problems and digital games hold potential as mental health interventions. This systematic review provides an overview of randomised controlled studies assessing the effectiveness of digital applied and casual games for improving mental health in youth aged 6-24 years. A systematic search of PsycINFO, Web of Science and Pubmed yielded 145 eligible studies. Studies on (sub)clinical participant samples (n = 75) most often focused on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and anxiety. Applied games were found most effective for improving social skills, verbal memory and anxiety, whereas casual games were found most effective for improving depression, anxiety and ADHD. Studies involving healthy youth (n = 70) were grouped into papers examining anxiety in medical settings, momentary effects on positive and negative affect, and papers employing a longitudinal design measuring mental health trait outcomes. Promising results were found for the use of games as distraction tools in medical settings, and for applied and casual games for improving momentary affect. Overall, our findings demonstrate the potential of digital games for improving mental health. Implications and recommendations for future research are discussed, such as developing evaluation guidelines, clearly defining applied games, harmonising outcome measures, including positive outcomes, and examining nonspecific factors that may influence symptom improvement as well.

The Relationship between Gamified Physical Exercise and Mental Health in Adolescence: An Example of Open Innovation in Gamified Learning

Interest in gamified physical activity has been driven by its potential to benefit student mental health. Integrating gamified practices for mental health improvement represents a significant innovation within multidisciplinary approaches to enhancing mental well-being. This review follows the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and was conducted using the Scopus and Web of Science (WOS) databases, primary sources for education-related studies. Thirteen papers were analyzed, yielding important insights into the relationship between gamified physical activity and mental health. The findings indicate that gamified physical activity positively influences adolescents' mental health and well-being. Additionally, there is a need for improved application and game design to enhance learning within school contexts. Tailoring exergames to fit specific disciplines and school-related characteristics can promote healthier mobile application usage and offer significant benefits for the mental health of young individuals. The difference between this study and previous ones is that it focuses on mobile applications for encouraging active living to improve quality of life and mental health.

Home-Based Exergame Program to Improve Physical Function, Fall Efficacy, Depression and Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aimed to investigate the effects of home-based exergame programs on physical function, fall efficacy, depression, and health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older adults. Fifty-seven participants aged 75 years or older were divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received a home-based exergame program that included balance and lower-extremity muscle strength for 8 weeks. The participants exercised at home for 50 min three times a week and were monitored through a video-conference application. Both groups received online education on musculoskeletal health once a week, whereas the control group did not exercise. Physical function was assessed using the one-leg standing test (OLST), Berg balance scale (BBS), functional reaching test (FRT), timed up-and-go test (TUGT), and five-times sit-to-stand (FTSTS). Fall efficacy was assessed using the modified falls efficacy scale (MFES). Depression was assessed using the geriatric depression scale (GDS). Health-related quality of life was assessed using a 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). The experimental group showed an overall improvement in OLST, BBS, FRT, TUGT, and FTSTS (p < 0.05). MFES was significantly increased in the experimental group after the intervention (p < 0.05). The GDS significantly decreased in the experimental group after the intervention (p < 0.05). In SF-36, role limitations due to physical health, general health, and fatigue (energy and fatigue) items improved in the experimental group after intervention (p < 0.05). An 8-week home-based exergame program improved physical function, fall efficacy, depression, and health-related quality of life in older adults. The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05802537).