Benefits of Digital Gameplay for Older Adults: Does Game Type Make a Difference?

Abstract

Digital games can help older adults to entertain themselves, socialize with others, engage their cognitive functions, and enhance emotional states. This study surveyed 463 older Canadian adults to identify the digital games they had played and investigate whether playing them was associated with perceived socioemotional and cognitive benefits. The most widely reported socioemotional benefits were developing self-confidence, dealing with loneliness, and connecting with family. The most widely reported cognitive benefits were focusing, memory improvement, improved reaction speed, and problem solving. In the socioemotional category, connecting with current friends and connecting with family were both associated with strategy games, while connecting with current friends was also associated with sport games. In the cognitive category, both problem solving and speed in reacting/responding were associated with arcade games. Results show that playing digital games has the potential to be an intervention tool to improve older adults’ wellbeing. Funding: This study was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (grant number 435-2012-0325) and AGE-WELL NCE Inc., a member of Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence (grant number CRP 2015-WP4.2).