Promoting Physical and Mental Health among Children and Adolescents via Gamification—A Conceptual Systematic Review

Gkintoni, Evgenia; Vantaraki, Fedra; Skoulidi, Charitini; Anastassopoulos, Panagiotis; Vantarakis, Apostolos

doi:10.3390/bs14020102

Cited by 138Educational Games and GamificationImpact of Technology on AdolescentsPhysical Activity and Health

Promoting Physical and Mental Health among Children and Adolescents via Gamification—A Conceptual Systematic Review

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Gkintoni, Evgenia, Vantaraki, Fedra, Skoulidi, Charitini, Anastassopoulos, Panagiotis, Vantarakis, Apostolos·2024·Behavioral Sciences

DOI 10.3390/bs14020102PMC PMC10886329

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Abstract

The rapid growth in digital technology usage among children and adolescents has highlighted the need for novel approaches to promote their physical and mental health. This paper investigates the viability of gamification—the application of game mechanics to non-gaming contexts—as a potent instrument for health promotion and mental health support. This conceptual systematic review seeks to examine the various published articles promoting children and adolescents’ physical and mental health through gamified techniques. These interventions can provide an interactive and engaging platform for encouraging physical activity, promoting healthy nutrition, enhancing emotional regulation, and promoting mental health. The significance of this topic stems from the pervasive use of electronic games, beginning at a young age, which makes them popular educational tools. For the review to be systematic and reproducible, the PsycINFO, Scopus, PubMed, and Elsevier databases were searched and the PRISMA method was utilized for the analysis. After analyzing the research data, empirical studies assessing the use of gamification in promoting adolescents’ physical and mental health are discussed. In conclusion, gamification has demonstrated promise for promoting children’s and adolescents’ physical and mental health. It improves motivation, commitment, and adherence to healthy behaviors. However, additional research is required to evaluate gamification interventions’ long-term effectiveness and sustainability in promoting health behaviors among this population.

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EMDR reduces the severity of PTSD symptoms more effectively than brief eclectic psychotherapy.
“In addition, EMDR reduces the severity of PTSD symptoms more effectively than brief eclectic psychotherapy [75], with a more pronounced decline in symptoms.”
From Clinical Efficacy of Psychotherapeutic Interventions for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Analysis. (2024) · cites this paper as [75]
The Results passages in our copy discuss gamified interventions and other child-health outcomes, not EMDR or brief eclectic psychotherapy. Searches for the claimed comparison and for the two treatments with PTSD symptom severity found no passage addressing it; page numbers were not available. (LLM, conf=0.73)
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Timpel, P., Cesena, F. Y., Costa, C. D. S., Soldatelli, M. D., Gois, E., Castrillón, E., Díaz, L. J. J., Repetto, G. M., Hagos, F., Yermenos, R. E. C., et al. (2018) · Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism · doi:10.1177/2042018818770938 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Usability and Engagement Evaluation of an Unguided Online Program for Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle and Reducing the Risk for Eating Disorders and Obesity in the School Setting
Nitsch, M., Adamcik, T., Kuso, S., Zeiler, M. D., & Waldherr, K. (2019) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu11040713 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Adolescent School-Based Sexual Health Education and Training: A Literature Review on Teaching and Learning Strategies
Haruna, H., Hu, X., & Chu, S. K. W. (2018) · Global Journal of Health Science · doi:10.5539/gjhs.v10n3p172 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Process Evaluation of a Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Intervention in an Urban School District
Lepe, S., Goodwin, J., Mulligan, K., Balestracci, K., Sebelia, L., & Greene, G. W. (2018) · Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2018.07.017 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Effects of Active Video Games on Children’s Psychosocial Beliefs and School Day Energy Expenditure
Gao, Z., Pope, Z., Lee, J. E., & Quan, M. (2019) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm8091268 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Planning a health promotion program: Mobile app gamification as a tool to engage adolescents
Pernencar, C. A. D. C., de Sousa, P. M. L., Frontini, R., Martinho, R., Runte, D., Mendes, D., & Carvalho, M. A. F. (2018) · Procedia Computer Science · doi:10.1016/j.procs.2018.10.016 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Effectiveness of a Gamification Strategy to Prevent Childhood Obesity in Schools: A Cluster Controlled Trial
Peña, S., Carranza, M., Cuadrado, C., Parra, D. C., Dintrans, P. V., Castillo, C., Cortínez-O’Ryan, A., Espinoza, P., Müller, V., Rivera, C., et al. (2021) · Obesity · doi:10.1002/oby.23165 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
The Adaptive GameSquad Xbox-Based Physical Activity and Health Coaching Intervention for Youth With Neurodevelopmental and Psychiatric Diagnoses: Pilot Feasibility Study
Bowling, A. B., Slavet, J., Hendrick, C. A., Beyl, R. A., Nauta, P., Augustyn, M. C., Mbamalu, M., Curtin, C., Bandini, L. G., Must, A., et al. (2021) · JMIR Formative Research · doi:10.2196/24566 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Neuropsychology of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Clinical Setting. A Systematic EvaluationPreprint
Gkintoni, E., & Ortíz, P. (2023) · Preprints.org · doi:10.20944/preprints202307.1083.v1 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Self-citation
Girls-only vs. mixed-gender groups in the delivery of a universal wellness programme among adolescents: A cluster-randomized controlled trial
Agam-Bitton, R., Ahmad, W. A., & Golan, M. (2018) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0198872 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Assessing Children’s Fine Motor Skills With Sensor-Augmented Toys: Machine Learning Approach
Brons, A., de Schipper, A. W., Mironcika, S., Toussaint, H. M., Schouten, B. A. M., Bakkes, S. C. J., & Kröse, B. (2021) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/24237 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Addressing health inequalities in Europe: key messages from the Joint Action Health Equity Europe (JAHEE)
Bucciardini, R., Zetterquist, P., Rotko, T., Putatti, V., Mattioli, B., Castro, P. D., Napolitani, F., Giammarioli, A. M., Kumar, B. N., Nordström, C., et al. (2023) · Archives of Public Health · doi:10.1186/s13690-023-01086-3 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Self-citation
The Content, Quality, and Behavior Change Techniques in Nutrition-Themed Mobile Apps for Children in Canada: App Review and Evaluation Study
Brown, J. M., Franco‐Arellano, B., Froome, H. M., Siddiqi, A., Mahmood, A., & Arcand, J. (2022) · JMIR mhealth and uhealth · doi:10.2196/31537 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Enhancements on Cognitive Performance and Academic Achievement in Adolescents Through the Hybridization of an Instructional Model With Gamification in Physical Education
(2021) · doi:10.20944/preprints202104.0535.v1 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Enhancements in Cognitive Performance and Academic Achievement in Adolescents through the Hybridization of an Instructional Model with Gamification in Physical Education
(2021) · doi:10.3390/su13115966 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Gamification and family leisure to alleviate the psychological impact of confinement due to COVID‐19
León, A. M., Rodríguez-Ferrer, J. M., Aguilar-Parra, J. M., & Rafael, H.-H. (2021) · Children & Society · doi:10.1111/chso.12495 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Digital games and virtual reality applications in child abuse: A scoping review and conceptual framework
Asadzadeh, A., Shahrokhi, H., Shalchi, B., Khamnian, Z., & Rezaei‐Hachesu, P. (2022) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0276985 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Improving Physical Fitness and Cognitive Functions in Middle School Students: Study Protocol for the Chinese Childhood Health, Activity and Motor Performance Study (Chinese CHAMPS)
Zhou, Z., Dong, S., Yin, J., Fu, Q., Ren, H., & Yin, Z. (2018) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph15050976 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Fammeal: A Gamified Mobile Application for Parents and Children to Help Healthcare Centers Treat Childhood Obesity
Afonso, L., Rodrigues, R., Reis, E., Miller, K. M., Castro, J., Parente, N., Teixeira, C., Fraga, A., & Torres, S. (2020) · IEEE Transactions on Games · doi:10.1109/tg.2020.3015804 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
HelperFriend, a Serious Game for Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors in Children: Design and Pilot Study
Espinosa-Curiel, I., Pozas-Bogarin, E. E., Hernández-Arvizu, M., Navarro-Jiménez, M. E., Delgado-Pérez, E. E., Martínez-Miranda, J., & Pérez-Espinosa, H. (2022) · JMIR Serious Games · doi:10.2196/33412 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
The Positive Impact and Associated Mechanisms of Physical Activity on Mental Health in Underprivileged Children and Adolescents: An Integrative Review
Rose, L. T., & Soundy, A. (2020) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs10110171 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
A Reusable Multiplayer Game for Promoting Active School Transport: Development Study
Laine, T. H., Duong, N., Lindvall, H., Oyelere, S. S., Rutberg, S., & Lindqvist, A.-K. (2022) · JMIR Serious Games · doi:10.2196/31638 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Magis – A magical adventure: Using a mobile game to deliver an ACT intervention for elementary schoolchildren in classroom settings
Keinonen, K., Lappalainen, P., Kotamäki-Viinikka, S., & Lappalainen, R. I. (2022) · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science · doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2022.11.010 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Could Gamification Be a Protective Factor Regarding Early School Leaving? A Life Story
Puerta, L. G., & Guerrero, M. A. N. V. (2021) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su13052569 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Do Children and Adolescents with Overweight or Obesity Adhere to the National Food-Based Dietary Guidelines in Greece?
Georgiou, A., Androutsos, O., Chouliaras, G. L., & Charmandari, E. (2022) · Children · doi:10.3390/children9020256 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Gamified Cognitive Bias Interventions for Psychiatric Disorders: Protocol of a Systematic Review
Zhang, M. W., Ying, J., & Ho, R. (2018) · JMIR Research Protocols · doi:10.2196/10154 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Evaluation of a Web-Based Stress Management Program for Persons Experiencing Work-Related Stress in Sweden (My Stress Control): Randomized Controlled Trial
Eklund, C., Söderlund, A., & Elfström, M. L. (2021) · JMIR Mental Health · doi:10.2196/17314 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Adaptive learning systems: Supporting navigation with customized suggestions
Somyürek, S. (2014) · Journal of Human Sciences · doi:10.14687/ijhs.v11i1.2663 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Guidelines-Driven Educational Intervention Promotes Healthy Lifestyle Among Adolescents and Adults: A Serbian National Longitudinal Study
Đorđić, V., Bozic, P. R., Milanović, I., Radisavljević, S., Batez, M., Jorga, J. B., & Ostojić, S. M. (2019) · Medicina · doi:10.3390/medicina55020039 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Commentary: Pediatric Digital Health Supported by the National Institutes of Health
Riley, W. T., Oh, A., Aklin, W. M., Sherrill, J. T., Wolff‐Hughes, D. L., Diana, A., Griffin, J. A., & Campo, R. (2018) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsy108 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Indicators to Assess Physical Health of Children and Adolescents in Activity Research—A Scoping Review
Kolb, S., Burchartz, A., Oriwol, D., Schmidt, S., Wöll, A., & Niessner, C. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph182010711 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Improving the Lifestyle of Adolescents Through Peer Education and Support in Vietnam: Protocol for a Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Tang, H., Nguyen, N., Dibley, M. J., Nguyen, T. H. H. D., & Alam, A. (2020) · JMIR Research Protocols · doi:10.2196/15930 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Effectiveness of a gamification strategy to prevent childhood obesity in schools: a cluster-randomized controlled trial
Peña, S., Carranza, M., Cuadrado, C., Espinoza, P., Müller, V., & Cerda, R. (2020) · Proceedings of The Nutrition Society · doi:10.1017/s0029665120000932 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Development of an mHealth Platform for Adolescent Obesity Prevention: User-Centered Design Approach
Reis, C. I., Pernencar, C. A. D. C., Carvalho, M. C., Gaspar, P. J. S., Martinho, R., Frontini, R., Alves, R., & de Sousa, P. M. L. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph191912568 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Gamification Techniques in Teaching and Learning Exploratory Courses in Technology and Livelihood Education: A Phenomenological Study
Regudon, L. M., Yazon, A. D., Manaig, K. A., Sapin, S. B., & Tamban, V. E. (2022) · International Journal of Management Entrepreneurship Social Sciences and Humanities · doi:10.31098/ijmesh.v5i2.1164 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
On the set of emotions with facial signals.
Kollareth, D., Durán, J. I., Ma, Y., Pierce, K. S., Brownell, H., & Russell, J. A. (2022) · Journal of Experimental Psychology General · doi:10.1037/xge0001285 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Asynchronous digital health interventions for reviewing asthma: A mixed-methods systematic review protocol
Uzzaman, N., Hammersley, V., McClatchey, K., Sheringham, J., Habib, G. M., & Pinnock, H. (2023) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0281538 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Health4EUKids project and best practices against obesity
Vantarakis, A., Velissari, J., & Brouma, M. (2023) · European Journal of Public Health · doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckad160.329 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Self-citation
LiveWell RERC State of the Science Conference Report on ICT Access to Support Community Living, Health and Function for People with Disabilities
Morris, J., Jones, M., DeRuyter, F., Putrino, D. F., Lang, C. E., & Jake‐Schoffman, D. E. (2019) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph17010274 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Koshu GRoup Activity, Active Play and Exercise (GRAPE) Study: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Protocol of a School-Based Intervention among Japanese Children
Yamakita, M., Ando, D., Sugita, H., Akiyama, Y., Sato, M., Yokomichi, H., Yamaguchi, K., & Yamagata, Z. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph18073351 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
IP pour les objets intelligents - Vision, technologies et solutions
Chauvenet, C. (2013) · doi:10.51257/a-v1-te8008 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Gamification in Late-Life Depression: A Serious Game for a Serious Problem
Frisardi, V. (2020) · Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research · doi:10.26717/bjstr.2020.26.004320 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Factors associated with the awareness of contraceptive methods, understanding the prevention of HIV/AIDS and the perception of HIV/AIDS risk among secondary school students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Ohnishi, M., Leshabari, S., Tanaka, J., & Nishihara, M. (2020) · Journal of Rural Medicine · doi:10.2185/jrm.2020-001 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Reducing “Screen-Time” and Promoting Self Care Activities among Overweight and Obese Pre-Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Bansal, S., Pradhan, M., Nagar, I., & Praveen Kumar, G. (2021) · International Healthcare Research Journal · doi:10.26440/ihrj/0504.07436 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Study on the Treatment of Common Mental Health Problems Among Adolescents in Contemporary Mainland China
Xiao, C. (2022) · Journal of Contemporary Educational Research · doi:10.26689/jcer.v6i9.4298 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Asynchronous digital health interventions (aDHI) for reviewing asthma: a mixed-methods systematic review
Uzzaman, N., Hammersley, V., McClatchey, K., Sheringham, J., Habib, M., & Pinnock, H. (2023) · doi:10.1183/13993003.congress-2023.pa4599 · Cited by 1 · see citing works

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Challenging Cognitive Load Theory: The Role of Educational Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence in Redefining Learning Efficacy
Gkintoni, E., Antonopoulou, H., Sortwell, A., & Halkiopoulos, C. (2025) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci15020203 · Cited by 309 · see citing works
Self-citation
The Role of Machine Learning in AR/VR-Based Cognitive Therapies: A Systematic Review for Mental Health Disorders
Halkiopoulos, C., & Gkintoni, E. (2025) · Electronics · doi:10.3390/electronics14061110 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Self-citation
Analyzing metaverse-based digital therapies, their effectiveness, and potential risks in mental healthcare
Buragohain, D., Khichar, S., Deng, C., Meng, Y., & Chaudhary, S. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-00916-4 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
“However, concerns regarding their usefulness, accessibility, and potential overuse are significant for their sustainable integration into mental healthcare 87,88 .”
Clinical Efficacy of Psychotherapeutic Interventions for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Analysis.
Gkintoni, E., Kourkoutas, E., Yotsidi, V., Stavrou, P. D., & Prinianaki, D. (2024) · Children · doi:10.3390/children11050579 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
“In addition, EMDR reduces the severity of PTSD symptoms more effectively than brief eclectic psychotherapy [75], with a more pronounced decline in symptoms.”
BackgroundSelf-citation
Integrating Clinical Neuropsychology and Psychotic Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Analysis of Cognitive Dynamics, Interventions, and Underlying Mechanisms
Gkintoni, E., Σκώκου, Μ., & Gourzis, P. (2024) · Medicina · doi:10.3390/medicina60040645 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
“Cognitive remediation, which uses structured training programs to improve cognition, is a common neuropsychological intervention [55].”
BackgroundSelf-citation
Gamified Health Promotion in Schools: The Integration of Neuropsychological Aspects and CBT—A Systematic Review
Gkintoni, E., Vantaraki, F., Skoulidi, C., Anastassopoulos, P., & Vantarakis, A. (2024) · Medicina · doi:10.3390/medicina60122085 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
“The paradigm consists of developing a set of core therapeutic psychological skills and embedding strategies and interventions in everyday situations [11–16].”
Self-citation
RETRACTED: Gamification for Mental Health and Health Psychology: Insights at the First Quarter Mark of the 21st Century
Castellano‐Tejedor, C., & Cencerrado, A. (2024) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph21080990 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
“The findings suggested that such VR interventions could significantly alleviate stress among adolescents, offering a promising tool for mental health promotion in this age group [37].”
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Retracted
Cognitive Insights from Emotional Intelligence: A Systematic Review of EI Models in Educational Achievement
Gkintoni, E., Dimakos, I. C., & Νικολάου, Γ. (2025) · Emerging Science Journal · doi:10.28991/esj-2024-sied1-016 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
“Additionally, Gkintoni et al. [56] investigated the evolution of student cognitive, emotional, and behavioral engagement.”
Self-citation
Clinical Symptomatology of Anxiety and Family Function in Adolescents—The Self-Esteem Mediator
Farmakopoulou, I., Lekka, M., & Gkintoni, E. (2024) · Children · doi:10.3390/children11030338 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
“These factors collectively contribute to shielding them from developing anxiety and other mental health issues [28,60–62].”
BackgroundSelf-citation
Clinical Intervention Strategies and Family Dynamics in Adolescent Eating Disorders: A Scoping Review for Enhancing Early Detection and Outcomes
Gkintoni, E., Κουρκούτας, Η., Vassilopoulos, S. P., & Mousi, M. (2024) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm13144084 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Self-citation
World Psychiatric Association-Asian Journal of Psychiatry Commission on Public Mental Health.
Bhugra, D., Liebrenz, M., Ventriglio, A., Ng, R., Javed, A., Kar, A., Chumakov, E., Moura, H., Tolentino, E., Gupta, S., et al. (2024) · Asian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104105 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Evaluation of Problem Based Gamification Learning (PBGL) Model on Critical Thinking Ability with Artificial Intelligence Approach Integrated with ChatGPT API: An Experimental Study
Naatonis, R. N., Rusijono, R., Jannah, M., & Malahina, E. A. U. (2024) · Qubahan Academic Journal · doi:10.48161/qaj.v4n3a919 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
“…academic performance, engagement, and motivation of learners [69] as well as having a psychological and intrinsic effect on participants [70, 71] gamification can be implemented in a variety of ways such as in focus group testing, online, utilizing software to developing concepts into the…”
Background
Teachers’ Digital Leadership and Competencies in Primary Education: A Cross-Sectional Behavioral Study
Antonopoulou, H., Matzavinou, P., Γιαννούκου, Ι., & Halkiopoulos, C. (2025) · Education Sciences · doi:10.3390/educsci15020215 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Gamified Digital Mental Health Interventions for Young People: Scoping Review of Ethical Aspects During Development and Implementation
Spahl, W., Motta, V. N., Woodcock, K., & Rubeis, G. (2024) · JMIR Serious Games · doi:10.2196/64488 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
“Consequently, digital mental health interventions [4,5], including digital games [6], are particularly promising in reaching and supporting this population with accessible, cost-effective, and less stigmatized ways of strengthening their mental health [7].”
How does physical education influence university students’ psychological health? An analysis from the dual perspectives of social support and exercise behavior
Han, X., Li, H., & Niu, L. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1457165 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Tourism Digital Transformation and Innovative Travel Facilitation Solutions Based on COVID-19: A Case Study of “Fit2Fly” Testing
Giakoumi, A., & Halkiopoulos, C. (2024) · Springer proceedings in business and economics · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-54338-8_12 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in Tourism and Hospitality. A Systematic Evaluation
Tsimakis, A., Sotiropoulou, I., Telonis, G., Halkiopoulos, C., & Boutsinas, B. (2024) · Springer proceedings in business and economics · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-54338-8_5 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Neuroplasticity-Informed Learning Under Cognitive Load: A Systematic Review of Functional Imaging, Brain Stimulation, and Educational Technology Applications
Gkintoni, E., Sortwell, A., Vassilopoulos, S. P., & Nikolaou, G. (2025) · Multimodal Technologies and Interaction · doi:10.3390/mti10010005 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Self-citation
Active Gamification in the Emotional Well-Being and Social Skills of Primary Education Students
Carcelén‐Fraile, M. D. C. (2025) · Education Sciences · doi:10.3390/educsci15020212 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Integrating digital health into pediatric obesity management: Current practices and future perspectives
Frattolillo, V., Massa, A., Capone, D., Monaco, N., Forcina, G., Filippo, P. D., Marzuillo, P., del Giudice, E. M., & Sessa, A. D. (2025) · Obesity Pillars · doi:10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100189 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
“In this context, serious video games designed to improve health — known as “ games for health ” (G4Hs) — are created with educational and behavioral goals, representing innovative and promising tools for promoting health-related behaviours change [38,39] (Table 1).”
The effect of smartphone addiction on adolescent health: the moderating effect of leisure physical activities
Zhang, R., Jiang, Q., Cheng, M., & Rhim, Y.-T. (2024) · Psicologia Reflexão e Crítica · doi:10.1186/s41155-024-00308-z · Cited by 14 · see citing works
“One reason is that adolescents with lower leisure physical activity are less adaptable to their social environment and may fear rejection or feel anxious about maintaining relationships, leading them to use smartphones to meet their security needs (Evgenia et al., 2024).”
Background
Gamified Exercise in Virtual Reality: A Novel Intervention for Enhancing Mental Health and Reducing Suicidal Ideation in Older Adults
Dong, Y., Faridniya, H., Ebrahimi, Z., & Zhao, Z. (2025) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare13080859 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
“Gkintoni et al. (2024) systematically reviewed its benefits, noting consistent improvements in motivation and commitment among younger populations [54].”
Women’s Tourism Entrepreneurship: Digital Approach and E-Skills in Travel Business Marketing
Kapota, M., Γιαννούκου, Ι., & Halkiopoulos, C. (2024) · Springer proceedings in business and economics · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-54342-5_8 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Systemic Gamification Theory (SGT): A Holistic Model for Inclusive Gamified Digital Learning
Coelho, F., & Abreu, A. M. (2025) · Multimodal Technologies and Interaction · doi:10.3390/mti9070070 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Exploring mHealth interventions for medication management: a scoping review of digital tools, implementation barriers, and patient outcomes
Wang, X., Wang, B., Tew, W. Y., Yang, X., Xu, X., Gao, Y., Chen, Y., & Yam, M. F. (2025) · PeerJ Computer Science · doi:10.7717/peerj-cs.3190 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Gamification in digital healthcare: from evidence review to a novel framework for enhancing patient engagement in chronic disease management
Nasri, S. A. E. M., Kavakli, M., Hassan-Smith, Z. K., Salt, A., & Hassan‐Smith, G. (2025) · F1000Research · doi:10.12688/f1000research.172599.1 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Development, usability, and preliminary efficacy of a virtual reality experience to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors in children: pilot randomized controlled trial
Fowler, L. A., Vázquez, M. M., DePietro, B., Wilfley, D. E., & Fitzsimmons‐Craft, E. E. (2024) · mHealth · doi:10.21037/mhealth-24-24 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Consumer experience and perception in gamification marketing: evidence from the user survey of POPMART
Zhang, J., Zou, Y., Wang, S., & Xiang, Y. (2025) · Frontiers in Communication · doi:10.3389/fcomm.2025.1388020 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Digital nudges and gamification: how the China state promotes citizens to manage chronic diseases in neighborhoods
Yang, R., & Han, Y. (2025) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-025-25381-6 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
PTSD in Children and Adolescents in the Educational Context. A Conceptual Approach
Kalogeratos, G., Anastasopoulou, E. E., Tsagri, A., Tseremegklis, C., Tsogka, D., Lourida, K., Mitroyanni, E., & Drongitis, A. (2024) · Technium Social Sciences Journal · doi:10.47577/tssj.v55i1.10668 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Effects of Active Gamification on Sleep and Anxiety Reduction in Spanish Primary School Children
Carcelén-Fraile, M. D. C., Ruiz-Ariza, A., Rusillo-Magdaleno, A., & Aibar-Almazán, A. (2025) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare13060623 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
“Sleep quality is a crucial factor in child development, influencing key areas such as emotional regulation, academic performance, and overall well-being [62].”
Innovative Digital Strategies in Crisis Management for Tourism Enterprises: Enhancing Resilience and Sustainable Growth in the Digital Era
Γιαννούκου, Ι., & Kougia, A. (2025) · Springer proceedings in business and economics · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-78471-2_3 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Next-Gen Wellness: AI, MBCT, and Data-Driven Marketing Transforming Health Tourism
Gkintoni, E., Telonis, G., Halkiopoulos, C., & Boutsinas, B. (2025) · Springer proceedings in business and economics · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-78471-2_37 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Self-citation
Social–Cognitive Factors in Antisocial Behavior and School Violence: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Greek Vocational Students
Petropoulou, A., Antonopoulou, H., Vlachou, A. A., Gkintoni, E., & Halkiopoulos, C. (2025) · Children · doi:10.3390/children12121647 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
“Holistic intervention frameworks addressing multiple dimensions of youth development may demonstrate enhanced effectiveness compared to narrowly focused single-domain approaches, particularly when incorporating engaging modalities that resonate with adolescent interests and preferences [115].”
Self-citation
Digital Footprints and Machine Learning in Psychological Assessment
Carvalho, R. G. G., & Castro, D. (2025) · European Psychologist · doi:10.1027/1016-9040/a000549 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Designing for Engagement in Primary Health Education Through Digital Game-Based Learning: Cross-National Behavioral Evidence from the iLearn4Health Platform
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“…design-centered analysis addresses a critical need in the literature for systematic evaluation methodologies when assessing game-related interface design across these intersecting fields (Sáiz-Manzanares et al., 2021; Feldhacker et al., 2025; Vázquez-Calatayud et al., 2024; Gkintoni et al., 2024b).”
Self-citation
Designing Digital Mental Health Interventions to Meet the Needs of Older Adolescents: Qualitative Interview and Group Discussion Study
Kornfield, R., Popowski, S. A., Tack, E. B., Svoboda, J., Herrera, M. A., Nguyen, T., Knapp, A. A., Mohr, D. C., & Meyerhoff, J. (2025) · JMIR Formative Research · doi:10.2196/68950 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“…drew on their deep experience using apps and social media sites to suggest engagement strategies that might better sustain their use of DMHIs, emphasizing peer-to-peer communication and gamification—approaches which have also been endorsed by adolescents in previous literature [32,33,80].”
Neural Efficiency and Sensorimotor Adaptations in Swimming Athletes: A Systematic Review of Neuroimaging and Cognitive–Behavioral Evidence for Performance and Wellbeing
Gkintoni, E., Sortwell, A., & Vantarakis, A. (2026) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci16010116 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“Gamification designs in cognitive interventions can take advantage of competition aspects, feedback, and progressive designs tailored to optimize neurofeedback and attention-training interventions, particularly to address mental fatigue in young swimmers [191].”
Self-citation
Challenges in Promoting Physical Activity for Managing MASLD in Canadian Children: Insights and Barriers
Kehar, M., Huerta‐Saenz, L., Strain, J., Kawesa, S., Yaraskavitch, J., Stine, J. G., & Longmuir, P. E. (2025) · Digestive Diseases and Sciences · doi:10.1007/s10620-025-08910-6 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Gamification elements [33, 34], in particular, can transform PA into an engaging and enjoyable experience, making these tools especially relevant for pediatric populations.”
Neurodevelopmental Pathways from Maternal Obesity to Offspring Outcomes: An Umbrella Review of Cognitive and Behavioral Consequences Across Development
Gkintoni, E., Papachatzi, E., Efthymiadou, E., Magriplis, E., & Vantarakis, A. (2025) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare13202653 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Self-citation
From Unilateral Dominance to Collaborative Cooperation: Exploring Intergenerational Cooperative Exergames to Facilitate Physical Exercise for Older Adults
Yuan, J., Qin, L., Li, Z., Jiang, B., Diao, Y., & Liu, G. (2024) · ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) · doi:10.1145/3678884.3681877 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
The Role of Gamification in Enhancing Cognitive and Neuropsychological Learning: A Review
Antonopoulou, H. (2024) · Technium BioChemMed · doi:10.47577/biochemmed.v11i.11970 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Understanding Adolescents' Perceived Barriers to Engagement in Online Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Programs for Anxiety and Their Ideas for Enhancing User Experience
Senyard, E., Rowe, A., Krishnamoorthy, G., & March, S. (2025) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/jclp.70007 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“Adolescents have higher levels of responsiveness to rewards and novelty than adults, and therefore respond well to positive reinforcement as a way to create behaviour change (Galvan 2013; (Gkintoni et al. 2024), and 97% of children have computer games in their homes in Australia (Brand et al. 2017).”
An Overview of Health-Promoting Programs and Healthy Lifestyles for Adolescents and Young People: A Scoping Review
Raimundo, M., Cerqueira, A., Gaspar, T., & de Matos, M. G. (2024) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare12202094 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“The literature emphasizes that interventions for young people should aim to promote physical and mental health, encourage physical activity, ensure adequate and healthy nu‑ trition, and prevent addictions and risky sexual behaviors [2,17–19].”
Background
Analyzing the keys to the design of a mobile application for physical activity for school and out-of-school use from the perspective of adolescents, teachers, coaches, managers, and experts
Mateo‐Orcajada, A., Abenza‐Cano, L., López-Miñarro, P. Á., Meroño, L., Guerrero, A. M. G., Morales-Belando, M. T., González-Gálvez, N., Espeso-García, A., Abelleira-Lamela, T., Gómez-Cuesta, N., et al. (2025) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0322074 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“…of gamification lies in several aspects: the relationship between gamification and the motivation, competence, or autonomy of adolescents [82,83], as well as on adherence and engagement [84,85], facilitating the acquisition of a routine [86,87]; the autonomy granted through the ability to…”
Nurse-led play intervention on hospitalization anxiety, fear among children admitted to a tertiary care hospital
Benazeera, & Aranha, P. R. (2025) · Journal of Education and Health Promotion · doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_57_25 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“[17,20] The present study revealed a statistically significant decrease in mean state and trait anxiety scores among participants in the experimental group compared to the control group over the three‑day intervention period.”
Teacher-Led Yoga/Mindfulness in the Key Stage 1 Classroom. Survey of Educators Across North-East England
Wilkin, K., Thornton, C., & Allen, G. (2025) · Early Childhood Education Journal · doi:10.1007/s10643-025-01903-0 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“…2023), interaction with animals (Fine et al., 2019), rule-based structured games (Strasser et al., 2023), digital technology ‘gamification’ (Gkintoni et al., 2024), physical activity (Hale et al., 2023; Marsigliante et al., 2023), and yoga and/or mindfulness (Bazzano et al., 2023;…”
Association Between Weekly Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity and Emotional Intelligence Factors in Spanish Adolescents: Perspectives for Digital and Gamified Interventions
Alberto, R.-A., García, J. E. M., Rusillo-Magdaleno, A., & Solas-Martínez, J. L. (2026) · Journal of Intelligence · doi:10.3390/jintelligence14010005 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“…and virtual activity challenges—can increase motivation, social connectedness, and emotional engagement, thereby supporting EI dimensions such as well-being and sociability, which were positively associated with weekly MVPA in the present study (Gkintoni et al., 2024; Vorlíˇcek et al., 2024).”
Influential
Identifying the Evolution of Learning Methods in Physical Education: A Systematic Review of Modern Approaches and Digital Integration
Bikalawan, S. S., Kristiyandaru, A., Ardha, M. A. A., Nurhasan, N., Herista, S. V. W., Legeayem, T. R., & Umarushalih, N. (2025) · Physical Education Theory and Methodology · doi:10.17309/tmfv.2025.2.28 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“The difference is that in this gamification method, the elements in a game (online game) are adapted for PE learning (Gkintoni et al., 2024).”
Innovative Neuropsychological Interventions for ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome and Clinical Implications for Practitioners
Theodoratou, M., Katsarou, D. V., Megari, K., Papadopoulou, S. L., Efthymiou, E., Sofologi, M., Kougioumtzis, G. Α., Yotsidi, V., Koundourou, C., Toki, E. I., et al. (2025) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-9689-6.ch019 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Adolescent Trauma and Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the School Context
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Enhancing Quality of Life for Caregivers of Adolescents with Emotional Disorders through Digital Skills
Kalogeratos, G., Anastasopoulou, E. E., Tseremegklis, C., & Avramidi, E. (2024) · Technium Education and Humanities · doi:10.47577/teh.v8i.10711 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Towards Reshaping Children’s Habits: Vitalia’s AR-Gamified Approach
Arampatzakis, V., Sevetlidis, V., Derri, V., Raffi, M., & Pavlidis, G. P. (2025) · Information · doi:10.3390/info16070606 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Systematic reviews indicate a positive impact of gamification on modifying children’s eating behaviors, enhancing nutritional knowledge, and encouraging physical activity [12–14].”
The Influence of Emotional Intelligence on Consumer Decision-Making: Insights from Recent Studies
Kalliampakou, I., & Antonopoulou, H. (2025) · Technium Social Sciences Journal · doi:10.47577/tssj.v67i1.11969 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Assessing and Enhancing Nutrition and Physical Activity Environments in Early Childhood Education and Care Centers: Scoping Review of eHealth Tools
Hayek, J., Dickson, K., & Lafave, L. M. Z. (2025) · JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting · doi:10.2196/68372 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Lastly, mobile-based interventions are often more prevalent among youth populations (children and adolescents) due to their capacity to incorporate gamification—a popular and engaging approach for health promotion interventions within this demographic [74].”
Digital interventions in tobacco prevention for school-aged children: results of systematic review
Gianfredi, V., Barbati, C., Sgueglia, A. C., Bertuccio, P., Traverso, L., & Odone, A. (2025) · Public Health · doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2025.105799 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Cross-sectional associations between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for physical activity and body composition in adolescents with obesity
de Freitas, F., Zago, M. R., Antônio, M. Â. R. D. G. M., Videira‐Silva, A., & Bellomo‐Brandão, M. A. (2025) · Obesity Pillars · doi:10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100197 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Nevertheless, prior research indicates that, when administered under standard conditions and ensuring participant anonymity, self-reports can reliably capture motivational constructs in health-related contexts [27].”
Gamified digital exercise interventions for children and adolescents: Protocol for a systematic review and behavior change technique analysis
Zhu, J., Chen, M., Jiang, W., Li, J., Liu, X., Jin, H., & Zhu, J. (2025) · Digital Health · doi:10.1177/20552076251365017 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Adolescents’ Health in the Digital Era: Exploring Opportunities, Overcoming Challenges, and Implementing Public Health Interventions
Shrivastava, S. R., Bobhate, P. S., & Jasri, D. M. (2025) · International Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_365_24 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“[12,20] In addition, health awareness campaigns (viz. improving vaccination uptake, addressing mental health stigma, etc.) can be run across social media platforms to motivate them to adopt healthy behaviors.”
Effects of a Board Game on Tic Management and Psychosocial Functioning in Adolescents With Tourette Syndrome: Randomized Controlled Trial
Lee, M., Wang, H.-S., Lien, C.-Y., & Chen, Z. H. (2025) · JMIR Serious Games · doi:10.2196/76208 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“Gamified strategies are interventions developed by health care providers to enhance physical and mental health in young people with chronic conditions [11,12].”
Influential
Co-Designing Culturally Grounded Mobile Health Games for Hypertension Management in Indigenous Communities
Graham, A., Ikwunne, T. A., & Duval, J. (2025) · International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS) · doi:10.1145/3663547.3746321 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Benefits, Risk Factors and Cognitive Insights for Improving the Well-being of Minors in Greek Foster Care.
Farmakopoulou, I., & Baltsioti, V. (2024) · Technium Education and Humanities · doi:10.47577/teh.v8i.10718 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
“To tackle trauma-related issues in foster care, it is essential to have a thorough grasp of the risk factors and protective factors that impact the welfare of individuals in care (Gkintoni et al., 2024a).”
Background
Influence of VR-Assisted College Dance on College Students' Physical and Mental Health and Comprehensive Quality
Zhao, Z. (2024) · International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education · doi:10.4018/ijicte.343521 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
The method of automated filling of the database with descriptions of human physical exercises
Volkov, A. S., & Blazhko, O. A. (2024) · Herald of Advanced Information Technology · doi:10.15276/hait.07.2024.8 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
The effect of behavioral activation play therapy in adolescents with depression: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Huang, X., Chen, Y., Luo, J., Wang, D., Yang, C., Luo, W., & Zhou, Y. (2024) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0304084 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Thus, interventions that focus on gamified physical activity (GPA) may be optimal for reducing sedentary behavior and depression risk in adolescents [34].”
Revealing the Profile of Foster Parents, Biological Parents, Foster Children and the Triadic Relationship amongst them
Farmakopoulou, I., & Baltsioti, V. (2024) · Technium Social Sciences Journal · doi:10.47577/tssj.v55i1.10728 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
The Contemporary Foster Care Legislative Framework in Greece: A Review of its Assets and Weaknesses
Farmakopoulou, I., & Baltsioti, V. (2024) · Technium Social Sciences Journal · doi:10.47577/tssj.v55i1.10729 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Emotional Neuroscience and Academic Achievement: Current Trends and Perspectives
Aroutzidis, A., & Antonopoulou, H. (2025) · Technium Social Sciences Journal · doi:10.47577/tssj.v67i1.11971 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Technologies for physical education of university students in online education: Systematic literature review
Grynyova, V. (2025) · Health Technologies · doi:10.58962/ht.2025.3.1.26-35 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
mHealth Applications for Childhood Anxiety Disorders: Current Landscape, Challenges, and Future Directions
Ozturk, C. S., & Demir, K. (2025) · Current Psychiatry Reports · doi:10.1007/s11920-025-01613-9 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“Age-appropriate content, gamification, parental involvement, and structured exposure techniques should be considered together for effective mHealth solu - tions [ 33].”
Prevention of violence against children and adolescents: development and validation of an educational game
de Oliveira, A. R. C., Marín, M. J. S., Alarcon, M. F. S., & Luz, G. D. S. (2025) · Revista gaúcha de enfermagem · doi:10.1590/1983-1447.2025.20240334.en · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Virtual health clinics and patient engagement
Senapati, S., Panda, R. K., & Mishra, D. N. (2025) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-30182-7.00012-9 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Art breaks obesity’s health information silos
Zhang, L., Zhang, J., & Yang, S. (2025) · Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism · doi:10.1016/j.tem.2025.10.002 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Associations between walkability and physical activity among children and adolescents: evidence from a gamified intervention
Eipel, L., Teich, P., Arntz, F., Scheller, D. A., Mall, C., & Ellinger, J. (2025) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-025-25317-0 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“In this regard, gamified scenarios appear to be beneficial for this target group [37, 38].”
Evaluation of a web-based back prevention program for primary school children: a randomized controlled trial
Weigel, S., Grifka, J. K., & Jansen, P. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-27813-0 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“Active video games have demonstrated a range of health benefits 74,75 , suggesting that enhanced gamification could improve both adherence and outcomes.”
Gamification and the development of metacognitive processes: a systematic literature review
Quiroga, C. V. V., & Ropero, M. E. B. (2025) · F1000Research · doi:10.12688/f1000research.173134.1 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Teaching that sticks: Leveraging bingo-based gamification for deep engagement and long-term retention in medical physiology
Tomar, A., Suryavanshi, C., & Nayak, K. R. (2025) · Educación Médica · doi:10.1016/j.edumed.2025.101141 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Gamified Physical Education and Cognitive Performance Among Chinese Secondary School Students: Cross-Sectional Moderation Mediation Study
Zhang, J., Oh, S.-S., & Xu, Y. (2026) · JMIR Serious Games · doi:10.2196/81086 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“Game elements, such as goal-setting, fast feedback, and reward systems, in PE sessions, may help children learn more effectively and improve cognitively [86].”
Leveling up immunization: a systematic review of gamification interventions to improve Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake
Taseen, S., Ayub, R., Noman, G. E. L., & Yousafzai, M. T. (2026) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-025-25606-8 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“…like goal-setting, competition, rewards, and social interaction, storytelling, role-playing, and real-life scenarios into game designs, gamified interventions can challenge pre-existing negative beliefs or fears about vaccines, replacing them with more informed and positive attitudes [35, 36].”
Children’s sense of presence in immersive virtual reality for pediatric surgery
Felnhofer, A., Aberle, J. S., Weiss, L. M., Winder, J., Marceta-Pavlovic, S., Palmisani, F., Giordano, V., Wagner, M., Greber‐Platzer, S., Metzelder, M. L., et al. (2026) · Virtual Reality · doi:10.1007/s10055-026-01419-x · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“Gamified approaches with goal-directed tasks have been shown to increase enjoyment and motivation, sustain engagement, and improve therapeutic outcomes in both adults and children (David et al. 2020; Gkintoni et al. 2024; Qiu et al. 2025; van der Kooij et al. 2019).”
The impact of a mixed exercise intervention on the physical and mental health of left-behind children: a randomized controlled trial combining sports games and ball sports
Fang, T., Wang, A.-J., Wang, Y., & Li, H. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1829202 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
The Impact of Institutionalization and the Application of Alternative Forms of Child Protection in Greece: A Conceptual Review
Farmakopoulou, I., & Baltsioti, V. (2024) · Technium Education and Humanities · doi:10.47577/teh.v8i.10717 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“…is to protect children who for whatever reason are deemed necessary to be removed from their families (Julian et al, 2019), nevertheless the consequences for these children are rather negative, especially in terms of their psycho-emotional and social development (Gkintoni et al., 2024a).”
Background
Criss-crossing the urban space: effectiveness and reach of a gamified intervention to promote daily physical activity among children and adolescents
Ellinger, J., Eipel, L., & Mall, C. (2025) · Discover Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12982-025-00706-3 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Aspects of Clinical Neuropsychology Related to the Psychotic Spectrum. A Comprehensive Systematic ReviewPreprint
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Self-citation
PHYSICAL EXERCISE AS MEDICINE IN CHRONIC DISEASES DURING CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE
Kamel, M. (2024) · doi:10.53555/jptcp.v31i8.7383
Neuroeducation and Cognitive Behavioral Interventions: A Narrative Review
Antonopoulou, H. (2024) · Technium BioChemMed · doi:10.47577/biochemmed.v11i.11968
The Role of Gamification in Enhancing Learning through Neuropsychological Tools: A Narrative Analysis
Antonopoulou, H. (2024) · Technium Romanian Journal of Applied Sciences and Technology · doi:10.47577/technium.v24i.11973
Games and gamification of mental health
Lodha, P., Gupta, A., Jog, S., & Desousa, A. (2025) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-30168-1.00024-4
Çocuklarda Ağrı Yönetiminde Oyunlaştırma
Özkan, T. K. (2025) · Özgür Yayınları eBooks · doi:10.58830/ozgur.pub693.c2941
Physical activity and mental health: an exploratory study of primary school students
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Prevenção da violência em crianças e adolescentes: desenvolvimento e validação de um jogo educativo
de Oliveira, A. R. C., Marín, M. J. S., Alarcon, M. F. S., & Luz, G. D. S. (2025) · Revista gaúcha de enfermagem · doi:10.1590/1983-1447.2025.20240334.pt
Health-Oriented Lifestyle, Psychological Hardiness and Impulsivity in Students’ Athletes: Correlations and Students’ PerceptionsPreprint
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Augmented and Virtual Reality in Gamified for Cybersecurity Education
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Gamification in Child and Adolescent Health: Trends, Applications, and Policy Relevance for Mental Well-Being, Physical Activity, and Nutrition
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Digital Applications in the Context of Motivation and Engagement Development: A Case Study of Chinese Adolescents in Artistic Gymnastics
Shi, Y. J. (2025) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2025.2531290
“Features such as social reinforcement via the sharing of achievements, motivation, and engagement can also increase or maintain a certain level due to external influences from family, peers, and coaches (Gkintoni et al., 2024; Luo & He, 2021).”
Associations of 24-hour movement guidelines adherence with social function and academic performance in youth with anxiety problems
Luo, X., Xu, S., Luo, Y., Pan, S., Aikeremu, A., Luo, J., Lin, J., Wang, Y., Gao, Y., & Song, X. (2025) · Complementary Therapies in Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2025.103227
Digital Transformation of Healthcare Professionals Trainings: Towards a Design Framework for Creating Autonomous XR Training Platforms
Daugeras, J., Gabriel, A., & Manukyan, A. (2025) · IEEE International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Innovation (ICE/ITMC) · doi:10.1109/ice/itmc65658.2025.11106598
“To maximize learning outcomes, immersive serious games like RoH should integrate learning objectives directly into gameplay, fostering active engagement among users [12] [13].”
DIGITAL INTERVENTIONS FOR ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY: NARRATIVE REVIEW AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Szczęsna, E., Miejska-Kamińska, M., Sośniak, I., & Jurczenko, L. (2025) · International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science · doi:10.31435/ijitss.3(47).2025.3879
An Innovative Health Education Tool: Evaluation of the Effect of Health Literacy Board Game on Improving Health Literacy in Primary School StudentsPreprint
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Multifactorial Analysis of Chronic Energy Deficiency in Adolescent Girls: Innovative RF-AR App for Early Detection and Effective Intervention
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The Relationship between Gamified Physical Exercise and Mental Health in Adolescence: An Example of Open Innovation in Gamified Learning
Pérez‐Jorge, D., Martínez-Murciano, M. C., Contreras-Madrid, A. I., & Alonso-Rodríguez, I. (2024) · Healthcare · doi:10.3390/healthcare12020124 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Gamified eHealth interventions for health promotion and disease prevention in children and adolescents: a scoping review
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Gamified Health Promotion in Schools: The Integration of Neuropsychological Aspects and CBT—A Systematic Review
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Self-citation
Gamified Interventions for Promoting the Psychosocial Well-Being of School-Aged Children: A Scoping Review
Kubota, K., Auxier, J. N., Aslan, F., Joronen, K., & Pakarinen, A. (2024) · Games for Health Journal · doi:10.1089/g4h.2023.0115 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
A scoping review of gamification for mental health in children: Uncovering its key features and impact
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Authors: Gkintoni, E., Vantaraki, F., Skoulidi, C., Anastassopoulos, P., & Vantarakis, A.
Affiliations: University of Patras (GR)
p-Consulting, 26442 Patras, Greece
Corresponding author: Gkintoni, Evgenia
ORCID: Gkintoni, Evgenia
Vantarakis, Apostolos
Venue: Behavioral Sciences
Publisher: MDPI AG
Published: 2024-01-29
Volume: 14
Issue: 2
Pages: 102
ISSN: 2076-328X (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.3390/bs14020102
PMC: PMC10886329
OpenAlex: W4391312793
Cited by: 137
References: 119
Citations by year: 2026: 36 · 2025: 71 · 2024: 30
FWCI: 13.22
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: gold
doi.org
Licence: cc-by
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (vor)
Locations: Behavioral Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders: Research Council of the University of Patras
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Educational Games and Gamification
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
Keywords: gamification, child health, adolescent mental health, physical activity promotion, healthy eating, emotion regulation, game mechanics, health behavior change, motivation, digital technology use, video games

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Promoting Physical and Mental Health among Children and Adolescents via Gamification—A Conceptual Systematic Review

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