Habits of Gamers Study

Plain-language summary

Rationale: Mindfulness is a popular therapeutic strategy that has a growing body of evidence suggesting it can improve a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms. Yet, confusion exists as to why mindfulness is effective as well as the most effective ways in which to teach and practice mindfulness. The present study will test a mindfulness training protocol to better understand the most effective ways to teach and practice mindfulness. Intervention: A group of video game players, or "gamers", will be instructed on how to play a video game of their choice in a more mindful way and compare this to an activity of daily functioning (i.e., folding laundry). Outcomes from self-report measures taken both before and after study activities will be tested against a control group of gamers who will perform the same study activities without the mindfulness induction. Objective or Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to test the effects of a brief, standardized mindfulness prompt in order to better understand effective ways to train mindfulness concepts. The mindfulness prompt will be applied to an intrinsically motivated activity (i.e., video game play for experienced gamers) and an activity of daily functioning (i.e., laundry folding) in order to evaluate the different effects of mindfulness practice when implemented with a popular leisure activity versus a less engaging activity of daily living. Study Population: This study will include adult "gamers" ages 18-65. A gamer is someone who engages in some form of digital video game play for a minimal average of three hours per week. A pre-screening measuring will rule out any participants who do not play video games with enough frequency to be considered a gamer. Study sessions will take place remotely overseen via a Zoom-based video call with study personnel. Another exclusion criteria will be an inability to speak with study personnel via Zoom or do not have a private area to perform the study activities. Study Methodology: To address the aims of this study a mixed-method, between- and within-group, counterbalanced study design will be employed. Thus, participants will be randomized to either a mindfulness or control condition with pre- and post-study-task self-report measures collected at two separate study sessions in order to statistically analyze the study hypotheses. Study Aims: The present study has one primary aim and several secondary aims: The primary aim is to test the beneficial effects of a standardized, brief mindfulness induction prior to the completion of two different activities (i.e., play a video game or fold laundry). A secondary aim is to evaluate the impact that the type of activity has on one's ability to practice mindfulness. In addition to the primary and secondary aims, an exploratory analysis will be utilized in order to better understand what factors may have mediated the results from the first two aims. Study Outcomes or Endpoints: A main effect will be used to test the differences between the study manipulation (i.e., mindfulness prompt) and control (i.e., perform the task as you usually do) conditions. The primary outcome will be a self-reported state-mindfulness scale that measures the degree to which one "mindfully" performed a specific activity. Secondary outcomes will capture changes in emotions from pre- to post-activity, level of engagement or "flow" during the activity, enjoyment performing study activities, and level of focus/concentration during study activities. Follow-up: No follow-up is planned at this time. A baseline screening measure as well as in-session pre and post-study task questions will be the only data collected. Statistics and Plans for Analysis: For the primary aim of the study, a repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with a 2 (study group) X 2 (activity type) X 2 (state mindfulness) matrix. The second study aim will be tested with a repeated measures multivariate analysis of covariation (MANCOVA) with the covariates of changes in emotions from pre- to post-activity, level of engagement or "flow" during the activity, enjoyment performing study activities, and level of focus/concentration during study activities.

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