Cognitive Teleintervention With Board Games During The Pandemic Lockdown In School-Age Children

https://www.doi.org/10.24140/ijgsi.v1.n2.01

Keywords: Board games, Cognitive teleintervention, School-age children, Executive funtions, Randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background. Playing modern board games has been linked to cognitive enhancement in children when playing face-to-face. However, because of the SARS-CoV-2, playing in an analog way was difficult. Objective. To test the efficacy of a cognitive intervention program with board games in school-age children (25 Spaniards; 5-12 years) delivered remotely through web conferencing. Methods. We performed a randomized controlled trial with a wait-list control group (n=10) and pre-post testing (updating, inhibition, flexibility, and verbal fluency). The study was preregistered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04823338). The experimental group (n=15) played commercialized board games adapted to an online format during 12 sessions. Results and Conclusions. We found higher flexibility and verbal fluency improvements in the experimental than in the control group. We also saw improvements in visuospatial updating solely in the passive control group. Board games played remotely could entail some cognitive benefits, though we found paradigmatic results too. Board games may benefit the most when played face to face.

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Author Biographies

Nuria Vita-Barrull, Department of Psychology, University of Lleida

Nuria Vita holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Lleida. She is a member of the NeuroPGA (Neuropsicología, Genes y Ambiente [Neuropsychology, Genes and Environment research group]). She has specialized in the application of modern board games as a tool for cognitive and educational stimulation in the childhood stage. She is also an associate professor at the University of Lleida.

Verónica Estrada-Plana, Department of Psychology, University of Lleida

She is a general health psychologist and Ph.D. by the University of Lleida. Her dissertation was about the use of board games as a cognitive training tool in children and older people. Currently, she is working as a psychologist in a neuropsychological and pedagogical center. She also teaches cognitive psychology at the university. Her research is focused on the use of board games in the fields of education, neuropsychology and rehabilitation.

Jaume March-Llanes, Department of Psychology, University of Lleida

Jaume March Llanes, who possesses a Ph.D. in Psychology and two master’s degrees in Statistics, serves as a professor specializing in the methodology of behavioral sciences at the University of Lleida. He is an integral member of the research group Neuropsychology, Methodology, Individual Differences, and Cognitive Processes at the University of Lleida, which has been officially recognized by the Government of Catalonia as an emerging group under the designation 2021SGR1432. Additionally, he is the lead investigator, together with Jorge Moya Higueras, for the Neuropsychology, Genes, and Environment research group. Since 2014, this research group has been actively engaged in studying the psychological, emotional, behavioral, and educational advantages offered by modern board games.

Núria Guzmán, Afim21

Núria Guzmán Sanjaume has a degree in psychology, with a Master’s Degree in Educational Neuropsychology, a Master’s Degree in Violence Prevention and Intervention, a Master’s Degree in Legal Psychology, Specialist in harassment, coexistence and emotional education. She is an expert in the use of playful methodologies and board games for psychological and educational intervention, especially for intervention in educational needs (high abilities, ADHD, dyslexia, Asperger’s and autism). In 2014 she founded the association Afim21 dedicated to intervention with family, children and the elderly through play. In its trajectory Afim21 has received recognition from Fapace and Codapa as well as Innovation awards granted by La Caixa Foundation and EDP Foundation.

María Mayoral, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM); Center for Biomedical Research Network on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Maria Mayoral is a Clinical Psychologist form the Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón IISGM. She has published some studies about Clinical, Cognitive and Developmental Psychology. She is associate professor at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. She leads the ATraPA (Acciones para el Tratamiento de la Personalidad en Adolescentes [Actions for Treating the Personality in Adolescents]) research team and the PIENSA (Programa de Intervencción en Psicosis Adolescente [Intervention Programme in Adolescent Psychosis]).

Jorge Moya Higueras, Department of Psychology, University of Lleida; Center for Biomedical Research Network on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Jorge Moya Higueras holds a Ph.D. in psychology. He is a professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Lleida. He is the coordinator of the research group Neuropsychology, Methodology, Individual Differences and Cognitive Processes of the University of Lleida, recognized by the Government of Catalonia as an emerging group (2021SGR1432). He is also the principal investigator, together with Jaume March Llanes, of the Neuropsychology, Genes and Environment research group. Since 2014 they have been conducting research on the psychological, emotional, behavioral and educational benefits of modern board games.

Published
2023-09-01
Issue
Vol. 1 No. 2 (2023): International Journal of Games and Social Impact
Section
Articles