IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/simgam/v47y2016i4p465-489.html

Older Adults’ Digital Gameplay

Author

Listed:
  • David Kaufman
  • Louise Sauvé
  • Lise Renaud
  • Andrew Sixsmith
  • Ben Mortenson

Abstract

Background. Empirical evidence suggests that digital gameplay can enhance social interaction and improve cognition for older adults . However, if digital games are to be effectively used as interventions to address age-related challenges, it is important to explore older adults’ experiences in playing them. Aim. The purpose of this survey design study was to identify digital gameplay patterns , perceived socio-emotional and cognitive benefits , and difficulties encountered in the gameplay experiences of older adults . Method. Adults aged 55 or older, recruited from seniors’ centers and local shopping malls in a Canadian city, responded to a printed, mainly closed-ended questionnaire . Results. 463 respondents reported that they actively play digital games. Most played alone rather than with others, and most rated themselves as intermediate or expert players. Players self-reported cognitive benefits but few socio-emotional benefits and few difficulties. Conclusions. The results of this study show promise for the use of digital games to provide innovative and engaging activities for enhancing older adults’ aging processes . Significant associations were found between player skill level and reported benefits. Recommendations. To perceive these benefits, older adults need to play frequently enough to develop beyond a beginner level. Education, facilitation, and support may be needed to encourage older adults to realize socio-emotional benefits from digital gameplay.

Suggested Citation

  • David Kaufman & Louise Sauvé & Lise Renaud & Andrew Sixsmith & Ben Mortenson, 2016. "Older Adults’ Digital Gameplay," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 47(4), pages 465-489, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:simgam:v:47:y:2016:i:4:p:465-489
    DOI: 10.1177/1046878116645736
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1046878116645736
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/1046878116645736?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rosemary Garris & Robert Ahlers & James E. Driskell, 2002. "Games, Motivation, and Learning: A Research and Practice Model," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 33(4), pages 441-467, December.
    2. J. A. Anguera & J. Boccanfuso & J. L. Rintoul & O. Al-Hashimi & F. Faraji & J. Janowich & E. Kong & Y. Larraburo & C. Rolle & E. Johnston & A. Gazzaley, 2013. "Video game training enhances cognitive control in older adults," Nature, Nature, vol. 501(7465), pages 97-101, September.
    3. Alison Abbott, 2013. "Gaming improves multitasking skills," Nature, Nature, vol. 501(7465), pages 18-18, September.
    4. David Crookall, 2010. "Serious Games, Debriefing, and Simulation/Gaming as a Discipline," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 41(6), pages 898-920, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lucy R. Zheng & Catherine M. Oberle & W. A. Hawkes-Robinson & Stéphane Daniau, 2021. "Serious Games as a Complementary Tool for Social Skill Development in Young People: A Systematic Review of the Literature," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 52(6), pages 686-714, December.
    2. Apinya Dhatsuwan & Monamorn Precharattana, 2016. "Blockyland," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 47(4), pages 445-464, August.
    3. Elena Novak & Ilker Soyturk, 2025. "Development of an Instrument for Evaluating Action Video Game Elements," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 56(1), pages 84-116, February.
    4. Marcin Wardaszko & Błażej Podgórski, 2017. "Mobile Learning Game Effectiveness in Cognitive Learning by Adults: A Comparative Study," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 48(4), pages 435-454, August.
    5. Katelyn Procci & Shan Lakhmani & Talib S. Hussain & Clint A. Bowers, 2014. "Opening Cinematics," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 45(1), pages 93-124, February.
    6. Elizabeth Koh & Yeo Gee Kin & Bimlesh Wadhwa & John Lim, 2012. "Teacher Perceptions of Games in Singapore Schools," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 43(1), pages 51-66, February.
    7. Jessy Barré & Daphné Michelet & Anais Job & Jennifer Truchot & Philippe Cabon & Catherine Delgoulet & Antoine Tesnière, 2019. "Does Repeated Exposure to Critical Situations in a Screen-Based Simulation Improve the Self-Assessment of Non-Technical Skills in Postpartum Hemorrhage Management?," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 50(2), pages 102-123, April.
    8. Michael Filsecker & Michael Kerres, 2014. "Engagement as a Volitional Construct," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 45(4-5), pages 450-470, August.
    9. Carolina Islas Sedano & Verona Leendertz & Mikko Vinni & Erkki Sutinen & Suria Ellis, 2013. "Hypercontextualized Learning Games," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 44(6), pages 821-845, December.
    10. Klaus Eisenack, 2013. "A Climate Change Board Game for Interdisciplinary Communication and Education," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 44(2-3), pages 328-348, April.
    11. Timothy C. Clapper, 2014. "Situational Interest and Instructional Design," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 45(2), pages 167-182, April.
    12. Silke Geithner & Daniela Menzel, 2016. "Effectiveness of Learning Through Experience and Reflection in a Project Management Simulation," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 47(2), pages 228-256, April.
    13. Yang Yang & Shuang Wang & Wei Shi, 2025. "Balancing Authority and Accessibility: Configurational Communication Strategies of Chinese Provincial Heritage Institutions on Social Media," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(4), pages 21582440251, December.
    14. Jonna Koponen & Saara Julkunen, 2015. "Theoretical Principles of Simulation-Based Sales Communication Training," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 46(2), pages 137-147, April.
    15. Aad Slootmaker & Hans Hummel & Rob Koper, 2017. "Evaluating the Usability of Authoring Environments for Serious Games," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 48(4), pages 553-578, August.
    16. Christelle Mariais & Florence Michau & Jean-Philippe Pernin, 2012. "A Description Grid to Support the Design of Learning Role-Play Games," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 43(1), pages 23-33, February.
    17. Frank Ulrich & Niels Henrik Helms, 2017. "CREATING EVALUATION PROFILES FOR GAMES DESIGNED TO BE FUN: An Interpretive Framework for Serious Game Mechanics," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 48(5), pages 695-714, October.
    18. Jonas K. Olofsson & Simon Niedenthal & Marie Ehrndal & Marta Zakrzewska & Andreas Wartel & Maria Larsson, 2017. "Beyond Smell-O-Vision: Possibilities for Smell-Based Digital Media," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 48(4), pages 455-479, August.
    19. David Kirschner & J. Patrick Williams, 2014. "Measuring Video Game Engagement Through Gameplay Reviews," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 45(4-5), pages 593-610, August.
    20. Korina Katsaliaki & Navonil Mustafee, 2015. "Edutainment for Sustainable Development," Simulation & Gaming, , vol. 46(6), pages 647-672, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:simgam:v:47:y:2016:i:4:p:465-489. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.