Fostering a healthy lifestyle in teenagers using growth mindset principles in a narrative game

Abstract

The number of overweight school-age children facing the risk of Type 2 diabetes is rising at an alarming rate worldwide. The adoption of a healthy lifestyle that involves eating a nourishing, balanced diet and engaging in frequent physical activity, is key in tackling the problem. However, it has yet to be achieved through the existing health education for adolescents and teenagers. Using educational design research, this study resulted in the creation of a prototype for a narrative game to provide information and practice for players to make better health-related choices in their daily lives. Principles of growth mindset, such as working hard, never giving up, asking for help and using strategies, are embedded within the educational simulation to reinforce self-regulation. A case study involving four 15-year-old students was conducted to explore how would using the game foster healthy decision making among teenagers. Data were collected through a questionnaire, gameplay recordings, a focus group interview and subsequent person-to-person discussions. Discovery learning, thrill of the game, and empowerment by information were the three themes that emerged from the thematic content analysis. They coincide with the three essential elements to successful educational experiences, consisting of simulation, game and pedagogy elements respectively. This study concludes that using a narrative game to foster a healthy lifestyle using growth mindset principles is indeed feasible, practical and achievable.