Examining the Cognitive, Psychological, and Social Effects of Regular Digital Game Playing in Older Adults
Project no. 24184 · Status: Kapanmış (Yayın bekleniyor) · 2022
Summary
<p>The aging period is a critical stage during which individuals experience various changes not only physically but also in cognitive and psychological functions. During this stage, it is essential to preserve and enhance anxiety management, stress regulation, social participation, and cognitive performance, all of which directly impact quality of life. This study aims to examine the effects of regular digital game playing on the psychological state, social participation, and cognitive performance of individuals aged 65 and over. The research was structured within the framework of an embedded mixed methods design, which combines both quantitative and qualitative data collection approaches. The data collection process was modeled based on a pre test, post-test control group experimental design. The study was conducted with 48 elderly individuals aged 65 and over, residing in a nursing home affiliated with the Ministry of Family and Social Services in İzmir, who were cognitively and physically able to function independently. Following the pretest assessments, participants were assigned to experimental and control groups through stratified randomization. Participants in the experimental group engaged in digital game sessions three times a week, each lasting up to one hour, over a period of eight weeks. No intervention was applied to the control group. Psychological states of the participants were assessed using the “State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI),” while stress levels were measured via the “Visual Analog Scale (VAS).” To evaluate cognitive performance, tests from the Psychology Experiment Building Language (PEBL) battery namely, Change Detection, Timewall, Flanker, and Corsi Block tests were employed. Social participation levels were determined using a semi-structured qualitative interview form consisting of three open-ended questions developed based on a literature review. Quantitative data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 27, while qualitative data were evaluated through content analysis using the MAXQDA software. Findings revealed a significant decrease in state anxiety levels in the experimental group following the digital game intervention. Additionally, anxiety levels of the experimental group were significantly lower compared to the control group. In terms of cognitive performance, participants in the experimental group demonstrated a notable improvement following the intervention, and their posttest scores were significantly higher than those of the control group. Qualitative findings indicated an increase in social participation levels; participants expressed their satisfaction with the digital gaming experience during the posttest interviews through themes such as “Individual Impact, Importance of the Activity, Positive Emotions, Desire to Socialize, Social Awareness, and Negative Environmental Influences.” This study demonstrates that digital games can be utilized not merely as a means of entertainment but also as a supportive tool for enhancing the psychological, social, and cognitive well-being of older adults. Furthermore, it was found that regular digital game playing has positive effects in reducing anxiety and stress levels, improving cognitive performance, and increasing social engagement among individuals aged 65 and over. The findings also emphasize the need for institutional programs to support the integration of elderly individuals into the digital world. Future research is recommended to explore the long-term effects of digital game interventions across different age groups and various types of games.</p>