ArticleJMIR serious games2019
Using Narrative Game Design to Increase Children's Physical Activity: Exploratory Thematic Analysis.
Article in JMIR serious games, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed.
- The impact of narratives and active video games among black and hispanic children with overweight and obesity: a randomized controlled trial.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2025Trial
- The Impact of Active Augmented Reality Games on Physical Activity and Cognition Among Older Adults: Feasibility Study.JMIR serious games · 2025Article
- Leveraging Influencers to Reach and Engage Vulnerable Individuals With a Digital Health Intervention: Quasi-Experimental Field Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- To Pause With a Cliffhanger or a Temporary Closure? The Differential Impact of Serial Versus Episodic Narratives on Children's Physical Activity Behaviors.Communication research · 2025Article
- Research on innovative design of Nuo mask based on Memetics-AHP-Thematic analysis-shape grammar.PloS one · 2025Article
- Acceptability and Feasibility of "Latinos Unidos": A Microgame Resource Combatting Health Misinformation for Latinos Living with HIV.Journal of health communication · 2024Article
- The effect of animated Sci-Fi characters' racial presentation on narrative engagement, wishful identification, and physical activity intention among children.The Journal of communication · 2024Article
- Design Preferences for a Serious Game-Based Cognitive Assessment of Older Adults in Prison: Thematic Analysis.JMIR serious games · 2023Article
- How much did it cost to develop and implement an eHealth intervention for a minority children population that overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic?Contemporary clinical trials · 2023Article
- What Type of Body Shape Moves Children? An Experimental Exploration of the Impact of Narrative Cartoon Character Body Shape on Children's Narrative Engagement, Wishful Identification, and Exercise Motivation.Frontiers in psychology · 2021Article
- The impact of narratives and active video games on long-term moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: A randomized controlled trial protocol.Contemporary clinical trials · 2020Article
- Designing Ambient Narrative-Based Interfaces to Reflect and Motivate Physical Activity.Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on human factors in computing systems. CHI Conference · 2020Article
- The Effect of Narrative on Physical Activity via Immersion During Active Video Game Play in Children: Mediation Analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPhysical activity is crucial for child obesity prevention and intervention. Narratives embedded in active games can increase children's physical activity.
objectiveLittle is known about the narrative characteristics that would motivate children to exercise. We attempted to fill the gaps in understanding regarding narrative design for active video games.
methodsIn this exploratory study, four animated narratives of different genres were professionally generated. Children (N=41) between the ages of 8 and 12 years were interviewed to identify their preferences. Sessions were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using exploratory thematic analysis.
resultsFindings revealed that the children rated the dystopian science fiction story as their favorite across all weight, race, and gender groups. The physical activity-friendly narrative strategies included virtuous characters, extraordinary character actions, interesting plots, super powers, and engaging cliffhangers. Alternatively, information not related to physical activity, difficult-to-follow plot lines, passive protagonists, and repetitive narrative tropes were less appealing for physical activity.
conclusionsThis research provides preliminary evidence that narratives have characteristics that may increase child physical activity when playing active games. Future empirical studies should verify and test these design principles.
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