The Habits of Playing and the Reasons for Not Playing Exergames: Gender Differences in Finland

This study examines the habits of playing and the reasons for not playing digital exercise games (i.e., exergames), concentrating particularly on the gender differences between the male and female players and non-players. Exergames can be considered an important and interesting research topic as they can be used to motivate people to do more exercise and, consequently, to improve their health and well-being. The study is based on analysing an online survey sample of 3,036 Finnish consumers through contingency tables, the Pearson’s χ 2 tests of independence, and the Cramer’s V coefficients. The results of the analysis reveal 11 main reasons for not playing exergames as well as several gender differences both in the habits of playing and in the reasons for not playing exergames. Based on these results, exergames still seem to have a long way to go before they are perceived as interesting enough in terms of the game experience as well as useful enough in terms of their effects on physical fitness.

[1]  Bruce W Bailey,et al.  Energy cost of exergaming: a comparison of the energy cost of 6 forms of exergaming. , 2011, Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine.

[2]  A. Daley.  Can Exergaming Contribute to Improving Physical Activity Levels and Health Outcomes in Children? , 2009, Pediatrics.

[3]  J. Sallis.  Potential vs actual benefits of exergames. , 2011, Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine.

[4]  K. Häkkinen,et al.  Physical fitness profiles in young Finnish men during the years 1975-2004. , 2006, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[5]  Nilufar Baghaei,et al.  Physical activity motivating games: virtual rewards for real activity , 2010, CHI.

[6]  M. Patton.  Qualitative evaluation and research methods, 2nd ed. , 1990 .

[7]  I. Olkin,et al.  Using pedometers to increase physical activity and improve health: a systematic review. , 2007, JAMA.

[8]  Juho Karvinen,et al.  Pelaajabarometri 2011: Pelaamisen muutos , 2011 .

[9]  Barbara Chamberlin,et al.  The Power of Play: Innovations in Getting Active Summit 2011 A Science Panel Proceedings Report From the American Heart Association , 2011, Circulation.

[10]  Everett M. Rogers,et al.  Diffusion of innovations (5. ed.) , 2003 .

[11]  Minna Isomursu,et al.  Tracking Outdoor Sports - User Experience Perspective , 2008, AmI.

[12]  O. Raitakari,et al.  Daily steps among Finnish adults: Variation by age, sex, and socioeconomic position , 2011, Scandinavian journal of public health.

[13]  S. Siegel,et al.  Active Video/Arcade Games (Exergaming) and Energy Expenditure in College Students. , 2009, International journal of exercise science.

[14]  Gösta Samuelson,et al.  Global strategy on diet, physical activity and health , 2004 .

[15]  John L. Sherry,et al.  Sex Differences in Video Game Play: , 2004, Commun. Res..

[16]  E. Rogers,et al.  Diffusion of Innovations , 1964 .

[17]  Ilkka Korhonen,et al.  Detection of Daily Activities and Sports With Wearable Sensors in Controlled and Uncontrolled Conditions , 2008, IEEE Transactions on Information Technology in Biomedicine.

[18]  Jennifer G. Sheridan,et al.  Designing sports: a framework for exertion games , 2011, CHI.

[19]  Brett Christie,et al.  Interactive Video Games in Physical Education , 2007 .

[20]  M. Patton,et al.  Qualitative evaluation and research methods , 1992 .

[21]  I. Bogost.  The Rhetoric of Exergaming , 2005 .

[22]  Ralph Maddison,et al.  Effects of active video games on body composition: a randomized controlled trial. , 2011, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[23]  John L. Sherry,et al.  Orientations to Video Games Among Gender and Age Groups , 2010 .

[24]  Shirley Matile Ogletree,et al.  College Students’ Video Game Participation and Perceptions: Gender Differences and Implications , 2007 .