Work

Competitive versus cooperative exergame play for African American adolescents' executive function skills: Short-term effects in a long-term training intervention.

Year: 2012

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: Exergames are videogames that require gross motor activity, thereby combining gaming with physical activity. This study examined the role of competitive versus cooperative exergame play on short-term changes in executive function skills, following a 10-week exergame training intervention. Fifty-four low-income overweight and obese African American adolescents were randomly assigned to a competitive exergame condition, a cooperative exergame condition, or a no-play control group. Youths in the competitive exergame condition improved in executive function skills more than did those in the cooperative exergame condition and the no-play control group. Weight loss during the intervention was also significantly positively correlated with improved executive function skills. The findings link competitive exergame play to beneficial cognitive outcomes for at-risk ethnic minority adolescents.

Source: Developmental Psychology

DOI: 10.1037/a0026938

Authors: Amanda E. Staiano, Anisha A. Abraham, Sandra L. Calvert

Institutions: Georgetown University, Georgetown University Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Educational Games and Gamification

Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases