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2017 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

Can Digital Games Help Seniors Improve Their Quality of Life?

Authors : Louise Sauvé, Lise Renaud, David Kaufman, Emmanuel Duplàa

Published in: Computers Supported Education

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

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Abstract

This developmental research study aimed to design, implement and evaluate an online educational game to improve the quality of life for seniors aged 55 years and older. The game Live Well, Live Healthy! (cvje2.savie.ca) is a Bingo game in which the learning content in the study is integrated into the mechanism of the game. A “pre-test/post-test” single group methodology measured the impact of the game on three dimensions of quality of life: psychological, physical, and social. A total of 56 seniors played for a week in multiplayer mode involving real-time interaction with at least two other participants. The results indicated that the educational game improved the seniors’ perception of a majority of the variables concerning the three dimensions: physical (fatigue, sleep, eating habits); social well-being (building ties, social connectedness, friendships) and psychological well-being (depression, difficulty doing activities, mood and feeling of being loved). Some variables (sadness, isolation, proximity to family and physical habits) generated a weak perception of positive benefits for these seniors.

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Metadata
Title
Can Digital Games Help Seniors Improve Their Quality of Life?
Authors
Louise Sauvé
Lise Renaud
David Kaufman
Emmanuel Duplàa
Copyright Year
2017
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63184-4_10

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