0lder adults digital gameplay: A Follow-Up study of social benefits

Abstract

This study involved 20 Wii Bowling teams of 3–4 players each in an eight-week tournament across a large city in western Canada. This paper summarizes the initial results, in which an increase in social connectedness and decrease in loneliness were found, and reports on a follow-up study three months after the tournament that examined whether people still played together and maintained their social connections. The follow-up consisted of 14 focus groups, with 46 Wii Bowling players, with at least one representative from each team. Many participants seemed to maintain benefit from their new social contacts three months after the tournament. However, participants experienced some difficulties in recruiting new players and in maintaining momentum over time. In seniors’ centres and facilities with scheduled activities, Wii Bowling remained a regular source of social interaction and fun. These findings are examined with a consideration of socio-emotional selectivity theory.