Eudaimonia and Hedonia in the Design and Evaluation of a Cooperative Game for Psychosocial Well-Being

Abstract

An extended design and evaluation framework of eudaimonia (personal growth, expressiveness) and hedonia (pleasure, comfort) was applied to a cooperative game for older adults who rely on power mobility. The purpose was to address two psychosocial well-being needs (perceptions of performance mastery and empathy enhancement) through a game with an interaction format that augments the experience of powered chair use: mixed reality with power mobility-based interaction and movement. Two versions of the game—one in a mixed reality format and one without—were created to evaluate the efficacy of using this framework and explore relevant user experience factors. Qualitative findings suggest that the mixed reality version of the game elicited eudaimonic experiences, where the older adult participants who were typically reliant on power mobility perceived a positive change in performance mastery while their partners, who were not reliant on power mobility developed a greater appreciation for everyday powered chair use. Further, a role reversal, where the elders took on a ‘caregiving’ role in the context of powered chair expertise, was observed. Moreover, inferential findings showed evidence of a predictive relationship between hedonic and eudaimonic orientations, psychological well-being, and game engagement, regardless of age, disability status, and game version.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) and AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE); Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada [CGSD3-460223-2014].

Notes on contributors

Katie Seaborn

Katie Seaborn ([email protected], http://katieseaborn.com) is a designer and researcher with an interest in inclusive design, psychological well-being, and games beyond entertainment; she is a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellow in RCAST at the University of Tokyo and an Honorary Researcher at the UCL Interaction Centre.

Peter Pennefather

Peter Pennefather ([email protected]) is a neuroscientist with an interest in human wellbeing and resilience from a neuroscience perspective; he is a Professor Emeritus in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto.

Deborah I. Fels

Deborah I. Fels ([email protected], http://imdc.ca) is an engineer with an interest in inclusive technologies, design, and media; she is a Professor in the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University and the Director of the Inclusive Media and Design Centre.