Can exergames impart health messages? Game play, framing, and drivers of physical activity among children

J Health Commun. 2014;19(2):136-51. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2013.798372. Epub 2013 Nov 5.

Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of incorporating exergaming into physical education lessons as a platform for imparting health education messages and influencing children's beliefs about and attitudes toward physical activity. The authors launched a 6-week intervention program using Nintendo Wii games coupled with protection motivation theory-based health messaging among 5th-grade school children in Singapore. Results indicated that when children who were exposed to threat-framed messages played Wii exergames during physical education lessons, they reported more positive physical activity attitude, self-efficacy, and perceived behavioral control than did those who underwent regular physical education lessons and were exposed to the same message. In addition, among children playing Wii, the threat and coping frames had similar effects on the degree of message influence on physical activity attitudes and beliefs. The implications for schools, parents, and health policy are discussed.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Child
  • Fear
  • Female
  • Health Communication / methods*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motor Activity*
  • Physical Education and Training / methods*
  • Program Evaluation
  • Psychological Theory
  • Self Efficacy
  • Singapore
  • Video Games*