Does Digital Game Play Affect Social/Emotional Child Well-Being? (Poster 2)

• In Event: Sunday Poster Session 1:15 pm
  In Poster Session: Supporting Social-Emotional Learning, Well-Being, and Development Across the Lifespan

Abstract

We investigated whether digital game play can enhance child wellbeing across six dimensions (competence, agency, relatedness, curiosity, optimism, and reduced stress). We conducted a playtesting study (N=25) to develop wellbeing profiles for six games, which informed an experimental study in which 8- to 12-year-olds (N=62) either played tablet-based casual games over an 8-week period (play group) or engaged in other activities (control group) in an afterschool program. We administered the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale and the KIDSCREEN-27 as pre- and/or post-intervention tests. We found that for children with specific psychological needs, the play intervention improved related domains of wellbeing. Results have theoretical and practical implications, including guidance for game designers to add features supporting child wellbeing.

Authors

• Yuli Shao, New York University

• Meagan Kathleen Bromley Henry, EDC Center for Children and Technology

• Fabian Froehlich, New York University - Shanghai

• Jessica Young, New York University

• Bruce D. Homer, Graduate Center - CUNY

• Jan L. Plass, New York University