Exploring the potential of virtual worlds in engaging older people and supporting healthy aging

Siriaraya, Panote; Ang, Chee Siang; Bobrowicz, Ania

doi:10.1080/0144929x.2012.691552

Cited by 44 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Delamere (2012) has pointed out "computer-generated communications in virtual worlds do decrease barriers of time and space" (p. 241). Siriaraya, Ang, and Bobrowicz (2014) found that older adults who participated in virtual worlds were able to form deep interpersonal relationships, and many of their study participants emphasized how virtual worlds enabled them to meet new people and keep in touch with existing friends. Furthermore, virtual worlds have helped to empower older adults with disabilities by facilitating social engagement, providing mental stimulation, and strengthening relationships online (Delamere, 2012;Siriaraya et al, 2014).…”

Section: Computers and Tablets As A Leisure Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Siriaraya, Ang, and Bobrowicz (2014) found that older adults who participated in virtual worlds were able to form deep interpersonal relationships, and many of their study participants emphasized how virtual worlds enabled them to meet new people and keep in touch with existing friends. Furthermore, virtual worlds have helped to empower older adults with disabilities by facilitating social engagement, providing mental stimulation, and strengthening relationships online (Delamere, 2012;Siriaraya et al, 2014). Thus, the Internet can help people to expand existing interests and explore new ones by facilitating self-expansion and self-invention (Khvorostianov, Elias, & Nimrod, 2012).…”

Section: Computers and Tablets As A Leisure Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Exploring Community Inclusion in Older Adulthood through the Use of Computers and Tablets

Leonard

Hebblethwaite²

2017

TRJ

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Section: Computers and Tablets As A Leisure Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Computers and Tablets As A Leisure Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring Community Inclusion in Older Adulthood through the Use of Computers and Tablets

Leonard

Hebblethwaite²

2017

TRJ

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“…Users feel as if they are an integral part of the virtual world and get more engaged in the activities, thus making virtual worlds suitable to facilitate social engagement for the health support and physical functioning of the older adults (Molina et al, 2014;Siriaraya, Ang & Bobrowicz, 2014).…”

Section: Virtual Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The interplay of physical and social wellbeing in older adults: investigating the relationship between physical training and social interactions with virtual social environments

Far

Ferron

Ibarra

et al. 2015

PeerJ Computer Science

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Background. Regular physical activity can substantially improve the physical wellbeing of older adults, preventing several chronic diseases and increasing cognitive performance and mood. However, research has shown that older adults are the most sedentary segment of society, spending much of their time seated or inactive. A variety of barriers make it difficult for older adults to maintain an active lifestyle, including logistical difficulties in going to a gym (for some adults, leaving home can be challenging), reduced functional abilities, and lack of motivation. In this paper, we report on the design and evaluation of Gymcentral. A training application running on tablet was designed to allow older adults to follow a personalized home-based exercise program while being remotely assisted by a coach. The objective of the study was to assess if a virtual gym that enables virtual presence and social interaction is more motivating for training than the same virtual gym without social interaction. Methods. A total of 37 adults aged between 65 and 87 years old (28 females and 9 males, mean age = 71, sd = 5.8) followed a personalized home-based strength and balance training plan for eight weeks. The participants performed the exercises autonomously at home using the Gymcentral application. Participants were assigned to two training groups: the Social group used an application with persuasive and social functionalities, while the Control group used a basic version of the service with no persuasive and social features. We further explored the effects of social facilitation, and in particular of virtual social presence, in user participation to training sessions. Outcome measures were adherence, persistence and co-presence rate. Results. Participants in the Social group attended significantly more exercise sessions than the Control group, providing evidence of a better engagement in the training program. Besides the focus on social persuasion measures, the study also confirms that a virtual gym service is effective for supporting individually tailored home-based physical training for older adults. The study also confirms that social facilitation tools motivate users to train together in a virtual fitness environment. Discussion. The study confirms that Gymcentral increases the participation of older adults in physical training compare to a similar version of the application without

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“…With relatively limited leisure opportunities, these individuals are proposed to be at risk of developing a range of negative psychological symptoms, such as dependant behavioural patterns, learned helplessness and depression (Turner & Beiser, 1990;Turner & Noh, 1988). Conversely, Virtual Reality interventions, as well as everyday online experiences, have been found to provide positive and enjoyable leisure opportunities, and can result in enhanced enthusiasm, promote independence, self-esteem and self-empowerment (Anderberg & Jonsson, 2005;Siriaraya, Ang, & Bobrowicz, 2014;Weiss, Bialik, & Kizony, 2003). The clinical usage for such programs has begun to be used in assessment and as an intervention tool in the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities and cognitive impairments (Cheung, Maron, Tatla, & Jarus, 2013;Reid, 2002;Resnik, Etter, Klingerm, & Kambe, 2011;Rizzo, Buckwalter, & Van der Zagg, 2002;Yang, Lin, Lin, & Lee, 2013), in addition to showing effectiveness in cognitive rehabilitation in a range of studies (see Larson, Feigon, Gagliardo, & Dvorkin, 2014;Rose, Brooks, & Rizzo, 2005).…”

Section: Virtual Environments and Individuals With Physical Disabilitiesmentioning

confidence: 94%

Psychosocial impacts of engaging in Second Life for individuals with physical disabilities

Kleban

Kaye

2015

Computers in Human Behavior

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a b s t r a c tThe psychological experiences associated with engagement in virtual worlds have been well documented in the existing literature. The current study aimed to explore the motivations, experiences and psychosocial impacts of engaging in the virtual world ''Second Life''. This aimed to extend previous findings by specifically exploring the phenomenological experiences within a sample of individuals with physical disabilities. This was achieved by conducting in-world interviews with five participants, comprising a range of physical disabilities. Through thematic analysis of the interviews transcripts, a number of themes were identified. Quality of life, self-esteem and recreational therapy were identified as positive psychological outcomes of engagement in Second Life. These were found to occur through a number of processes such as self-discovery, relaxation, and perception of in-world equality. Further, the social and environmental opportunities emerged as key motivations for engagement in Second Life. These findings extend the current literature by providing evidence for the way in which Second Life provides important leisure opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities, and the way in which these experiences are associated with positive psychological outcomes. The implications of these findings highlight the clinical relevance of such platforms for this particular population of individuals.Crown

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Exploring the potential of virtual worlds in engaging older people and supporting healthy aging

Cited by 44 publications

References 33 publications

Exploring Community Inclusion in Older Adulthood through the Use of Computers and Tablets

Exploring Community Inclusion in Older Adulthood through the Use of Computers and Tablets

The interplay of physical and social wellbeing in older adults: investigating the relationship between physical training and social interactions with virtual social environments

Psychosocial impacts of engaging in Second Life for individuals with physical disabilities

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