| The effectiveness of gamification interventions on improving motor skills and mental health in children with developmental coordination disorder |
| Paper ID : 1675-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
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Ayoub hashemi *1, Mohammad Hossein Zamani2 1Assistant Professor, Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran. 2Department of Sport Sciences- Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Jahroum University, Jahroum, iran. |
| Abstract |
| Introduction: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects children’s motor coordination, often leading to reduced physical activity and negative psychological outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a gamification-based intervention in improving motor skills and mental health among children with DCD. Methods: This semi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design was conducted in 2025 on 40 male children with DCD in Yasouj city. After identifying children with DCD, participants were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. The experimental group received a game-like physical activity program for 8 weeks, two 45-minute sessions per week. The assessment tools included the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ7), Movement Assessment for Children-2 (MABC-2), test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2), and the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28). Data analysis was performed using the analysis of covariance statistical method with a significance level of 0.05 and SPSS version 26. Results: Findings revealed significant improvements in gross motor skills in the intervention group compared to the control group(P<0.05). Additionally, children who participated in the gamified sessions showed a significant reduction in GHQ-28 scores, indicating better mental health outcomes(P<0.05). Conclusion: Gamification-based physical activity interventions can significantly improve motor skills and mental health in children with DCD. Incorporating playful, game-like elements into rehabilitation programs may serve as an effective, motivating, and enjoyable strategy for promoting holistic development in children with coordination difficulties. |
| Keywords |
| Developmental Coordination Disorder, gamification, physical activity, mental health, motor skills |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
