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ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to understand older adults’ perceptions of the connections between an exergame intervention, “I Am Dolphin,” and their subjective well-being. Researchers conducted three focus groups with 14 older adults who participated in the exergame feasibility study. The semi-structured focus groups were transcribed, coded, and analysed using deductive and inductive techniques. Three themes were constructed related to playing the exergame and participants’ subjective well-being: 1) elevated mood (through scheduled activity, immersion, and socialization), 2) feelings of achievement (especially following frustration and competition), and 3) perceived cognitive or physical changes. These findings will help researchers better understand how exergames may relate to the well-being of older adults. Future investigators could use these findings to create and implement new exergame interventions.
Acknowledgments
The first author’s (B.F.D.) time on this paper was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Future of Nursing Scholars Program. The second author’s (B.M.C.) time on this paper was supported by the Johns Hopkins Research Training Grant in Age-Related Cognitive Disorders from the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health (T32-AG27668) and the Johns Hopkins Epidemiology and Biostatistics of Aging Research Fellowship from the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health (T32-AG000247). The third author’s (J.L.T.) time on this paper was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Harold Amos Medical Faculty Program. We would like to thank John Krakauer, MD, Omar Ahmad, PhD, and the entire KATA team for creating and refining the exergame, “I Am Dolphin.”
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
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Notes on contributors
Brittany F. Drazich
Brittany F. Drazich is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Nursing.
Breanna M. Crane
Breanna M. Crane is a PhD candidate at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health.
Janiece L. Taylor
Janiece L. Taylor is an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.
Sarah L. Szanton
Sarah L. Szanton is the Dean of the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and Patricia M. Davidson Professor for Health Equity and Social Justice.
Kyle D. Moored
Kyle D. Moored is an assistant scientist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health.
Dana Eldreth
Dana Eldreth is an assistant scientist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health.
Omar Ahmad
Omar Ahmad is the Director of Innovative Engineering and Chief Creative Engineer of the Kata design group in the Department of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
John W. Krakauer
John W. Krakauer is a professor of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Director of the Center for the Study of Motor Learning and Brain Repair at Johns Hopkins.
Barbara Resnick
Barbara Resnick is the Sonya Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology and Biology and Behavior Across the Lifespan Organized Research Center Co-Director at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Nursing.
Michelle C. Carlson
Michelle C. Carlson is a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health.