“Effects of Exergaming and Message Framing in School Environments on Physical Activity Attitude and Intentions of Children and Adolescents”

By Lwin, M. O., Ho, S. S., Jung, Y., Theng, Y. L., Kim, H., & Wardoyo, R. J.

Abstract:

While interventions targetting the health of students in schools are becoming common, few studies have examined how health messages operate at the group level in school environments. This study examines the effects of message-based health interventions (extrinsic vs. intrinsic framing) in group environments (exergame competitive vs. exergame non-competitive) on eliciting attitude and intention towards physical activity among children and adolescents. We conducted a seven-week school-based intervention program involving 336 children and 259 adolescents in Singapore where pre- and post-intervention responses were recorded. Our findings revealed the difference in responses between child and adolescent groups. Children who participated in non-competitive exergames with extrinsic-framed health messages and those who participated in competitive exergames with intrinsic-framed health messages demonstrated more favorable attitudes towards physical activity.. However, the same effects were absent in our adolescent group. These findings suggest that the integration of exergames in competitive and non-competitive environments can serve as a gateway to traditional physical activity in schools when strategically combined with intrinsic- and extrinsic-framed messages. Practical and theoretical implications for schools and health educators are discussed.