Erin O’Loughlin

Erin O’Loughlin

Role: Invited Speaker
Affiliation: Concordia University
Talk Title: Sustained Exergaming in Adolescents

Abstract:
Based on Sustained Exergaming in Adolescents by Erin O’Loughlin, Lisa Kakinami, Tracie Barnett

Exergaming is increasingly popular among youth. However, the extent to which exergaming is sustained over time in a population-based sample of youth is not well documented. The objective of this study was to describe the frequency and correlates of sustained exergaming over 2-3 years in adolescents.
Data were available in a prospective cohort investigation of 1,800 Grade 5 students recruited in a convenience sample of 30 elementary schools in Quebec, Canada in 2005. Data on past week exergaming were collected from 971 participants at age 14 years on average (in 2008–2009), and again when they were age 16 years on average (in 2010–2011), in mailed self-report questionnaires. Potential correlates of sustained exergaming were identified in separate multivariable logistic regression models.
Forty-three percent of 185 exergamers at age 14 reported exergaming 2-3 years later. Most sustained exergamers (88%) played up to twice a week at moderate to vigorous intensity. Sex (being female) and weight-related variables (trying to lose weight) were associated with sustained exergaming.
Many adolescents who exergame report exergaming 2-3 years later, which suggests that in real life settings, exergaming may be a viable approach to help adolescents increase their physical activity, especially if they are female and actively trying to lose weight.

Bio:
Erin began her PhD in September 2014 at Concordia University with Dr. Tracie Barnett and Dr. Lisa Kakinami in the INDI department. Her research interests include evaluating exergaming as a method to increase physical activity among sedentary populations and exploring motivation and how it relates to exergaming behaviour. She currently hold a research fellowship from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS). Erin is a McGill University graduate from the Education Department. Prior to completing her Masters in Health and Exercise Psychology for which she held a research fellowship from the Psychosocial Oncology Research Training (PORT) program, she completed her undergraduate degree in Human Relations in 2003 at Concordia University and a Graduate degree in Administration (GDIA) at the John Molson School of Business in 2007. She currently works on the AdoQuest study (www.adoquest.ca) as a research coordinator at the CRCHUM and is involved with research teams investigating physical activity and mental health.