Effects of Exergames on Motor Skills, Psychological Well-Being, and Cognitive Abilities in Schoolchildren and Adolescents: Scoping Review

Abstract

Background In a world where children are increasingly sedentary, the need for innovative solutions to promote physical activity is felt more than ever. Exergames—interactive video games combining physical activity with gaming—are an attractive way to engage children in exercise while having fun. Although exergames have demonstrated several benefits for the health and physical activity of children and young people, the impact of these devices is poorly explored, especially in the school context. Objective This scoping review was aimed at analyzing the effects of exergames on motor skills, psychological well-being, and cognitive abilities in children and adolescents during physical education hours and play-based activities. Our specific goal was to explore and describe the effects of exergames in school programs and their potential to improve physical and mental health in educational settings. Methods We carried out our review in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. We searched 3 bibliographic databases from 2019 to June 2024 and included all scientific studies involving children and adolescents interacting with exergames during physical education lessons at school. Results Our database search produced 1694 articles. After performing 3 levels of screening (title, abstract, and full text), 25 articles were left. The majority of the studies confirmed that the use of exergames during physical education and playful sport activities is associated with a number of improvements. More specifically, these devices can provide motor benefits as well as psychological or cognitive benefits, such as cognitive flexibility and attentional functions, overall well-being, and a greater sense of self-efficacy, self-confidence, and mood. Conclusions These results may have significant implications for public health or education: exergames may become accessible and useful devices for promoting physical activity in young people, potentially benefiting motor skills but also psychological and cognitive functions, increasing children’s participation in physical activities, and leading to a general improvement in their sense of self-efficacy and well-being. Exergames can improve children’s physical and cognitive skills, thus becoming a complementary and additional device to traditional physical education exercises and helpful tools to increase physical movement in extracurricular activities.