Han-Chung Huang1, Huynh Van Nguyen2, T C E Cheng3, May-Kuen Wong4, Hsin-Ying Chiu5, Ya-Hui Yang6, Ching-I Teng2,7,8. 1. 1 Intelligent Electronic Commerce Research Center, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 2. 2 Graduate Institute of Business and Management, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 3. 3 Fung Yiu King-Wing Hang Bank Professor in Business Administration, Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, Faculty of Business, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. 4. 4 Taoyuan Branch, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 5. 5 Department of Public Finance, National Taipei University, Taipei, Taiwan. 6. 6 Institute of Health Policy and Management, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 7. 7 Department of Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 8. 8 Department of Business and Management, Ming Chi University of Technology, Taishan, Taiwan.
Abstract
Objective: Exergames are popular technology applications that encourage individuals to engage in exercise and create positive moods for players. However, little is known as to whether playing exergames makes players perceive to be more energetic and relaxed and whether enthusiasm about doing exercise moderates such perceptions. To answer these questions, we use the Flow Theory and the Self-Determination Theory to develop the hypotheses. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial, which randomly assigned 337 participants to an intervention group and a control group. We asked the participants in the intervention group to play exergames for 2 weeks. We measured enthusiasm about doing exercise by asking the participants to evaluate themselves as having enthusiasm on doing exercise or not. We measured participants' perceptions of happiness, perceived energy (the perception of sufficient physical and mental resources), and relaxation before and after the 2-week exergame playing, generating scores to represent their changes. Results: We found that playing exergames induces positive changes in happiness, perceived energy, and relaxation. Such changes were significant for participants who are enthusiastic about doing exercise, but not for those who are unenthusiastic about doing exercise. Conclusion: This study was the first using the Flow Theory and the Self-Determination Theory to examine the impact of playing exergames on players' perceptions and to identify the moderator role of enthusiasm about doing exercise. These positive impacts of exergames can be used in rehabilitation settings in encouraging positive attitudes and behaviors toward exercise.
RCT Entities:
Objective: Exergames are popular technology applications that encourage individuals to engage in exercise and create positive moods for players. However, little is known as to whether playing exergames makes players perceive to be more energetic and relaxed and whether enthusiasm about doing exercise moderates such perceptions. To answer these questions, we use the Flow Theory and the Self-Determination Theory to develop the hypotheses. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial, which randomly assigned 337 participants to an intervention group and a control group. We asked the participants in the intervention group to play exergames for 2 weeks. We measured enthusiasm about doing exercise by asking the participants to evaluate themselves as having enthusiasm on doing exercise or not. We measured participants' perceptions of happiness, perceived energy (the perception of sufficient physical and mental resources), and relaxation before and after the 2-week exergame playing, generating scores to represent their changes. Results: We found that playing exergames induces positive changes in happiness, perceived energy, and relaxation. Such changes were significant for participants who are enthusiastic about doing exercise, but not for those who are unenthusiastic about doing exercise. Conclusion: This study was the first using the Flow Theory and the Self-Determination Theory to examine the impact of playing exergames on players' perceptions and to identify the moderator role of enthusiasm about doing exercise. These positive impacts of exergames can be used in rehabilitation settings in encouraging positive attitudes and behaviors toward exercise.