Children's Use of Electronic Games: Choices of Game Mode and Challenge Levels
Open Access
- 1 January 2010
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Hindawi Limited in International Journal of Pediatrics
- Vol. 2010, 1-6
- https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/218586
Abstract
Introduction. Interactive electronic games are popular and are believed to contribute to physical activity accrual. The purpose of this study was to examine children's electronic game use during conditions in which they had free access to selecting interactive and seated screen-based versions of electronic games and during the interactive versions had free choice in making adjustments to the activity intensity.Methods. We systematically observed 60 Hong Kong primary school children during two 60-minute game sessions while simultaneously recording their game mode choices and physical activity levels using SOFIT (System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time).Results. When given free choice, children spent more than half of their available time participating in interactive versions of games. These versions of games provided significantly more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and greater energy expenditure than the computer screen versions. Children with the opportunity to modify intensity levels spent more time playing the interactive versions and accrued more physical activity.Conclusions. The tenets of behavioral choice theory were supported. Access to new-generation interactive games, particularly those with modifiable intensity levels, may facilitate children's participation in physical activity.Keywords
Funding Information
- Seed Funding Program for Basic Research of the University of Hong Kong
This publication has 26 references indexed in Scilit:
- 2009 C. H. McCloy Lecture Seeing Is BelievingResearch Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 2010
- Playing Active Video Games Increases Energy Expenditure in ChildrenPediatrics, 2009
- The motivation of children to play an active video gameJournal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2008
- Couch potatoes to jumping beans: A pilot study of the effect of active video games on physical activity in childrenInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2008
- Comparison of energy expenditure in adolescents when playing new generation and sedentary computer games: cross sectional studyBMJ, 2007
- Energy Expenditure of Sedentary Screen Time Compared With Active Screen Time for ChildrenPEDIATRICS, 2006
- Using Momentary Time Sampling to Estimate Minutes of Physical Activity in Physical EducationResearch Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 2006
- Playing to Win: Video Games and the Fight against ObesityJournal of the American Dietetic Association, 2006
- Linking obesity and activity level with children's television and video game useJournal of Adolescence, 2004
- Home and Recess Physical Activity of Hong Kong ChildrenResearch Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 1999