Effects of Cooperative Exergames on Social Support and Quality of Life in Patients with Disabilities: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Keywords:
cooperative exergames, social support, quality of life, patients with disabilities, randomized controlled trial, rehabilitationAbstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of a cooperative exergame intervention on social support and quality of life in patients with disabilities. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 participants recruited from rehabilitation centers in Iraq. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 15) receiving a 12-session cooperative exergame program or to a control group (n = 15) placed on a waitlist. Standardized instruments, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the WHOQOL-BREF, were administered at pre-test, post-test, and a five-month follow-up. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-27, employing repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post hoc tests to examine group differences across time points. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant main effects of time and group, as well as significant time × group interaction effects for both social support (F(2,56) = 40.60, p < .001, η² = .59) and quality of life (F(2,56) = 45.00, p < .001, η² = .62). Bonferroni post hoc tests showed that the intervention group demonstrated substantial improvements from pre-test to post-test in social support (mean difference = −15.44, p < .001) and quality of life (mean difference = −15.47, p < .001), with effects maintained at follow-up. No significant changes were observed in the control group across any measurement points. The cooperative exergame intervention significantly enhanced both social support and quality of life in patients with disabilities, with improvements sustained over five months. These findings suggest that integrating cooperative exergames into rehabilitation programs can address both physical and psychosocial aspects of disability management, offering a promising, accessible, and engaging therapeutic approach.
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