Abstract
As the field of intergenerational gaming matures, researchers have begun to explore both the intrapersonal and interpersonal effects of gaming. In the current empirical research, we surveyed adult Pokémon GO players (ages 19–76 years) to examine player well-being as a function of motivations for playing location-based games and whether one plays with people younger than, the same age as, and older than one’s self. Although most players (73%) reported physical exercise as their primary reason for playing, players also reported relationship maintenance (63.8%), forming new relationships (33.8%), and cognitive engagement (23.8%) as important motivations. A majority (65.4%) engaged with same-age players, although 31.5% engaged with younger players and 23.8% engaged with older players. A structural equation was used to model the influence of friend characteristics (younger, same age, older) and the four motivations for playing on well-being [X2 (DF = 5) = 14.515, p < 0.02; R2 = 0.126; CMIN/df = 2.903; CFI = 0.935]. Players with younger people in their gaming network and those with relationship maintenance as their motivation to play reported higher well-being. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of including context in examinations of intergenerational gaming.
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Notes
Although the instructions prompted participants to list an in-game Friend who was about 15 years or more older than they were, a 19 year old listed someone who is about age 27 years as their “older” Friend. Given the arbitrary distinction about how many years constitute an age cohort, we retained this 27 year old as part of the “older” Friends listed.
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Appendix
Appendix
Reasons one plays… | Strongly Agree = 5; Strongly Disagree = 1 | |
|---|---|---|
To get some exercise | Exercise | |
To socialize with others | New relationships | |
Meet new people | New relationships | |
To spend time with 1 or more specific people | Relationship maintenance | |
To challenge my memory and attention | Cognitive challenge | |
My friends play and we do it together | Relationship maintenance | |
My family plays and we do it together | Relationship maintenance | |
To help my friends to have better Pokémon | Relationship maintenance | |
To meet others | New relationships | |
To share activity with a specific person | Relationship maintenance | |
To challenge myself mentally | Cognitive challenge | |
To get more physically active | Exercise | |
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Marello, M.M., Clark, M.S. & Patrick, J.H. Pokémon GO: Gotta Catch ‘Em All... but with My Younger Friends. Comput Game J 9, 207–219 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40869-020-00102-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40869-020-00102-8