Aging in 10 Minutes: Do Age Simulation Suits Mimic Physical Decline in Old Age? Comparing Experimental Data with Established Reference Data.

INTRODUCTION: Age simulation suits are increasingly used in health care education. However, empirical evidence that quantifies the simulated performance losses in established geriatric tests and compares those declines with reference data of older adults is scarce. METHODS: In a standardized lab setting, we compared performance of N = 61 participants (46 middle-aged, 15 young adults) with and without age simulation suit, for example in the Timed Up and Go Test (+dual task), Short Physical Performance Battery, grip strength, and 30-Second-Chair- Standing Test. Additionally, we compared the results with suit to established reference values of older adults in different age groups. RESULTS: Reduced performance was observed in both groups when wearing the suit, yet to different degrees dependent on the assessment and user age. For one, larger declines were observed in more challenging and complex tasks across age groups. In addition, comparisons with reference values revealed age-differential "instant aging" effects. DISCUSSION: A simulated "fourth age," where frailty and impairments are accumulating, was not reached in the majority of assessments, especially not among younger participants. In conclusion, existing age simulation suits may have some educational and empathy potential, but so far, they fail in simulating the age period with most serious functional loss.

Benefits and challenges of conversational agents in older adults : A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Commercial conversational agents (CAs) bear the promise of low threshold accessibility for individuals with limited digital competencies. This applies not only for healthy aging older adults but also for specific subgroups such as those with life-long intellectual disabilities (ID). OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aims to synthesize the current evidence on benefits and challenges of CAs for older adults with and without ID. In doing so, we hope to inform future research as well as practical decision-making in the context of CAs as potential quality of life enhancers for older adults with various competence levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted in form of a scoping review. A total of 841 publications were screened for benefits and challenges of CAs, resulting in an extraction of 18 articles targeting healthy aging older adults (60 years+) and 5 articles targeting older adults with ID (50 years+) for synthesis. RESULTS: The existing evidence suggests that CAs come with more benefits than challenges, e.g., general ease of use, easier information access, and feelings of companionship. Higher perceived agency due to using a CA seems to be a specific issue for older adults with ID. Challenges concern mostly learning how to use a CA and privacy concerns. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that CAs can serve as quality of life enhancers both in healthy aging adults and in older adults with ID; nevertheless, thoughtful preparation is necessary, especially in relation to learning needs, capabilities present and privacy concerns.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Trajectories of Well-Being of Middle-Aged and older Adults: A Multidimensional and Multidirectional Perspective.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in profound changes of individuals' everyday lives. Restrictions in social contacts and in leisure activities and the threatening situation of a spreading virus might have resulted in compromised well-being. At the same time, the pandemic could have promoted specific aspects of psychosocial well-being, e.g., due to intensified relationships with close persons during lockdown periods. We investigated this potentially multidimensional and multi-directional pattern of pandemic-specific change in well-being by analyzing changes over up to 8 years (2012-2020) in two broad well-being domains, hedonic well-being (life satisfaction) and eudaimonic well-being (one overarching eudaimonic well-being indicator as well as environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, and self-acceptance), among 423 adults who were aged 40-98 years in 2012. By modelling longitudinal multilevel regression models and allowing for a measurement-specific intra-individual deviation component from the general slope in 2020, i.e. after the pandemic outbreak, we analyzed potential normative history-graded changes due to the pandemic. All mean-level history-graded changes were nonsignificant, but most revealed substantial interindividual variability, indicating that individuals' pandemic-related well-being changes were remarkably heterogeneous. Only for personal growth and self-acceptance, adding a pandemic-related change component (and interindividual variability thereof) did not result in a better model fit. Individuals with poorer self-rated health at baseline in 2012 revealed a pandemic-related change toward lower life satisfaction. Our findings suggest that not all well-being domains - and not all individuals - are equally prone to "COVID-19 effects", and even pandemic-associated gains were observed for some individuals in certain well-being domains.

Measuring attitudes towards the dying process: A systematic review of tools.

BACKGROUND: At the end of life, anxious attitudes concerning the dying process are common in patients in Palliative Care. Measurement tools can identify vulnerabilities, resources and the need for subsequent treatment to relieve suffering and support well-being. AIM: To systematically review available tools measuring attitudes towards dying, their operationalization, the method of measurement and the methodological quality including generalizability to different contexts. DESIGN: Systematic review according to the PRISMA Statement. Methodological quality of tools assessed by standardized review criteria. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PsyndexTests and the Health and Psychosocial Instruments were searched from their inception to April 2017. RESULTS: A total of 94 identified studies reported the development and/or validation of 44 tools. Of these, 37 were questionnaires and 7 alternative measurement methods (e.g. projective measures). In 34 of 37 questionnaires, the emotional evaluation (e.g. anxiety) towards dying is measured. Dying is operationalized in general items ( n = 20), in several specific aspects of dying ( n = 34) and as dying of others ( n = 14). Methodological quality of tools was reported inconsistently. Nine tools reported good internal consistency. Of 37 tools, 4 were validated in a clinical sample (e.g. terminal cancer; Huntington disease), indicating questionable generalizability to clinical contexts for most tools. CONCLUSION: Many tools exist to measure attitudes towards the dying process using different endpoints. This overview can serve as decision framework on which tool to apply in which contexts. For clinical application, only few tools were available. Further validation of existing tools and potential alternative methods in various populations is needed.

[Wearables to support self-management of older adults with chronic diseases : A qualitative study from the perspectives of patients and physicians]. / Wearables zur Unterstützung des Selbstmanagements von älteren Menschen mit chronischen Erkrankungen : Eine qualitative Studie aus der Perspektive von Patienten und Ärzten.

BACKGROUND: The use of wearable devices (WD) is discussed as an option to support elderly chronically ill people. These technologies lack essential research regarding the improvement of self-management. This study aimes to identify perspectives, expectations and their underlying background of patients and physicians with respect to the usage of WDs to enhance self-management. METHODS: In this study a total of 14 patients and physicians were surveyed using a semi-structured questionnaire design. The data were analyzed by qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The participants have in general a positive attitude towards the use of WDs with respect to memory function, self-control, sense of security, documentation of vital parameters and communication about the disease, as well as suitability for everyday use; however, in many cases participants are concerned about the usage of WDs for a variety of reasons. They perceive the device as unnecessary or they lack technological self-confidence and felt controlled as well as data protection concerns. Participant responses show prerequisites which should be met for the usage of a WD requiring an individual needs assessment. CONCLUSION: The results show a potential of WDs to improve self-management. The usage of WD could have a positive effect on the course of the disease; however, personality and environmental factors should be taken into account to individually adjust and support the usage of WDs. Furthermore, the application of WDs should be integrated into a structured training program accompanied by healthcare professionals. For this purpose, funding and time-oriented framework conditions should be established.

Internet Use in Very Old Age: The Role of the Social Context and Individual Characteristics.

The social context plays an important role in very old age. However, little is known about its relationship with internet use, whereas individual characteristics (e.g., sociodemographic variables, and health status) are better studied. Still, representative studies for the oldest old are missing. Therefore, this study analyzes the relationship between social context variables and individual characteristics with internet use in a representative sample of oldest old from North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (N = 1,862; Mage = 85.43, SDage = 4.15). Descriptive statistics reveal differences between oldest old onliners and offliners regarding their social context and individual characteristics. Logistic regression analyses show that the significant role of the social context (family and living situation, social contacts and activities) diminishes after adding individual characteristics to the model, which appear to be significantly related to internet use. The results indicate an association of social context variables and individual characteristics with internet use in very old age.

The Relationship Between Internet Use for Social Purposes, Loneliness, and Depressive Symptoms Among the Oldest Old.

The internet enables communication with social partners and has been found to be related to higher psychological well-being among older adults. Using data from the representative German North Rhine-Westphalia 80+ (NRW80+) study (n = 1,698, Mage = 84.86), we conducted linear regression and mediation analyses to compare levels of loneliness and depressive symptoms of onliners using the internet for social or other purposes with offliners. Oldest old onliners used the internet mostly for social purposes, and this type of internet use was related to a significantly lower level of loneliness and fewer depressive symptoms compared to offliners. The mediation analysis revealed that internet use for social purposes was related to lower levels of loneliness, which in turn was associated with a lower number of depressive symptoms. The findings suggest that internet use for social purposes may help the oldest old to reduce feelings of loneliness and depressive symptoms.

Digital Gender Gap in the Second Half of Life Is Declining: Changes in Gendered Internet Use Between 2014 and 2021 in Germany.

OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of the study has been to examine changes in Internet use among men and women in 3 age groups (midlife, early old age, and advanced old age) between 2014 and 2021. We tested 2 hypotheses: The complementary hypothesis posits that online activities reproduce gender differences in offline activities. The compensatory hypothesis posits that women are catching up over time in male-typed activities as Internet access approaches saturation for both genders. METHODS: We used representative, longitudinal data from the German Ageing Survey collected in 2014, 2017, 2020, and 2021 (n = 21,505, age range 46-90 years). We ran logistic regressions on Internet access and Internet use for 4 different gender-typed activities: social contact (female-typed), shopping (gender-neutral), entertainment (male-typed), and banking (male-typed). RESULTS: Between 2014 and 2021, women drew level with men in Internet access. Gender differences in all 4 forms of Internet use declined considerably between 2014 and 2021. Women overtook men in using the Internet for social contact. In older age groups, men held the lead regarding online banking. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, women caught up to men in Internet use, especially for entertainment. DISCUSSION: Overall time trends support the complementary hypothesis. By contrast, the finding that women have been catching up in some male-typed online activities during the COVID-19 pandemic supports the compensatory hypothesis.

Aging during COVID-19 in Germany: a longitudinal analysis of psychosocial adaptation.

Existing theories of aging suggest that there may be similarities and differences in how COVID-19 impacts older people's psychosocial adaptation compared to younger age groups, particularly middle-aged individuals. To assess the degree to which these impacts vary, we analyzed data from 3098 participants between the ages of 40 and 79 from an online survey in Germany. Data were collected at three measurement occasions between the start of the nationwide lockdown in mid-March 2020 and the end of the lockdown in early August 2020. The survey focused on everyday experiences during the COVID-19 crisis and collected various satisfaction ratings (e.g., general life satisfaction, satisfaction with family life, satisfaction with social contacts). At baseline, participants also provided retrospective ratings of satisfaction for the period before the COVID-19 crisis. In our analyses, we compared satisfaction ratings of middle-aged (40-64 years) and older individuals (65-79 years) and found that both middle-aged and older participants experienced the greatest decreases in satisfaction with social contacts, with more pronounced decreases seen in middle-aged participants. A similar pattern was observed for general life satisfaction, but the overall decreases were less pronounced in both groups compared to the decreases in satisfaction with social contacts. We also observed a partial recovery effect in all measures at the last measurement occasion, and this effect was more pronounced in older adults. Findings were also confirmed using age as a continuous variable and checking for linear and nonlinear effects of outcomes across the age range. Although ageism arose during the pandemic in the sense that older adults were labeled as a "risk group," particularly at the start of the outbreak, we found consistently with other studies that middle-aged adults' satisfaction decreased to a greater extent than that of older adults. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10433-021-00655-1.

Awareness of age-related change is associated with attitudes toward technology and technology skills among older adults.

Despite much research in the context of aging and technology, the role of Views on aging (VoA) for differences in technology use and attitudes among older adults has rarely been studied so far. This study focuses on the associations between a multidimensional measure of VoA and technology use, technology skills, and attitudes toward technology in a sample of older adults (n = 369, age range: 65-93 years, 48.2% male). We apply the concept of Awareness of age-related change (AARC) to examine the role of positive (AARC-Gains) and negative (AARC-Losses) self-perceptions of aging. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted. The results showed positive associations of AARC-Gains with technology skills and technology attitudes. For AARC-Losses, we identified negative associations with technology skills, technology attitudes as well as general technology use. In contrast, associations between subjective age (SA) and all technology-related measures were non-significant. The results stress the importance to consider multidimensional measures of VoA to gain a better understanding of the associations between an individuals' experiencing of own aging processes and technology adoption. More research is needed to determine the stability of these findings in other samples and for other kinds of technology use and attitudes.

Awareness of age-related change in very different cultural-political contexts: A cross-cultural examination of aging in Burkina Faso and Germany.

Combining recent developments in research on personal views on aging (VoA) and a cross-country comparative approach, this study examined awareness of age-related change (AARC) in samples from rural Burkina Faso and Germany. The aims of this study were (1) to examine for an assumed proportional shift in the relationship between gains/losses toward more losses as predicted by life span psychology; (2) to estimate the association between AARC dimensions and subjective age; and (3) to examine the association between health variables and AARC. A cross-sectional method involving a large, representative sample from rural Burkina Faso that included participants aged 40 and older (N = 3,028) and a smaller convenience sample of German respondents aged 50 years and older (N = 541) were used to address these questions. A proportional shift toward more AARC-losses was more clearly observable in the sample from Burkina Faso as compared to the German reference. In both samples, subjective age was consistently more strongly related to AARC-losses than to AARC-gains. Within the sample from Burkina Faso, differential associations of AARC-gains and AARC-losses to health variables could be shown. In conclusion, the findings support key tenets of life span psychology including that age-related gains occur even late in life and that a shift toward more losses occurs with increasing age. Also, feeling subjectively younger may indeed be more strongly guided by lowered negative aging experiences than by increased positive ones.

"Aging Means to Me That I Feel Lonely More Often"? An Experimental Study on the Effects of Age Simulation Regarding Views on Aging.

Over the last decades, educational programs involving age simulation suits (ASS) emerged with the ambition to further the understanding of age-related loss experiences, enhance empathy and reduce negative attitudes toward older adults in healthcare settings and in younger age groups at large. However, the impact of such "instant aging" interventions on individuals' personal views on aging have not been studied yet. The aim of the current study is to address possible effects of ASS interventions on multiple outcomes related to views on aging, i.e., aging-related cognitions (i.e., expectations regarding social losses), awareness of age-related change (AARC) and age stereotypes. Moreover, we explore effects on broader constructs with relevance to aging, i.e., perceived obsolescence, risk perceptions, as well as desired support through technology. In a within-subjects design, N = 40 participants (M = 61.4 years, SD = 6.16) went through a series of established geriatric assessments (i.e., Timed up and Go) with and without an ASS. Views on aging constructs were assessed in standardized questionnaires before and after the ASS intervention. Changes in aging-related cognitions were observed, with more negative expectations regarding social integration and continuous development after wearing the ASS. AARC and age stereotypes did not change from pre- to post-assessment, but participants reported an increased susceptibility to age-associated impairments and stronger feelings of obsolescence. Those participants who exhibited higher difficulties in geriatric assessments while wearing the suit reported higher openness to be supported by intelligent assistive devices or robots afterwards. We conclude that ASS interventions should only be combined with education on losses and gains during the aging process to prevent negative effects on individual views on aging. On the other hand, potentials regarding technology acceptance and formation of intentions to engage in prevention and health behaviors among middle-aged to young-old adults are discussed.

Effects of age simulation suits on psychological and physical outcomes: a systematic review.

Age simulation suits (ASS) are widely used to simulate sensory and physical restrictions that typically occur as people age. This review has two objectives: first, we synthesize the current research on ASS in terms of the observed psychological and physical effects associated with ASS. Second, we analyze indicators able to estimate the validity of ASS in simulating "true" ageing processes. Following the PRISMA guidelines, eight electronic databases were searched (BASE, Cinhal, Cochrane, Google Scholar, ProQuest, PsychINFO, Pubmed, and Web of Science). Qualitative and quantitative studies addressing effects of ASS interventions regarding psychological outcomes (i.e., empathy, attitudes) or physical parameters (i.e., gait, balance) were included. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was applied for quality assessment. Of 1890 identified citations, we included 94 for full-text screening and finally 26 studies were examined. Publication years ranged from 2001 to 2021. Study populations were predominantly based on students in health-related disciplines. Results suggest that ASS can initiate positive effects on attitudes toward (d weighted = 0.33) and empathy for older adults (d weighted = 0.54). Physical performance was significantly reduced; however, there is only little evidence of a realistic simulation of typical ageing processes. Although positive effects of ASS are supported to some extent, more diverse study populations and high-quality controlled designs are needed. Further, validation studies examining whether the simulation indeed reflects "real" ageing are needed and should build on reference data generated by standardized geriatric assessments or adequate comparison groups of older adults. Prospero registration: 232686. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10433-022-00722-1.

Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected older adults' personal and general views on aging? Evidence for losses and gains.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic might have affected older adults' personal and general views on aging (VoA) because they were frequently, particularly during the early phase of the pandemic, portrayed as a homogeneous, vulnerable group in the media and in public debates. Also, their higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease progression as well as other pandemic-related stressors and restrictions might have impacted how older adults perceive their own aging. In this study, it was examined to which extent middle-aged and older adults' personal and general VoA changed due to the pandemic by distinguishing between normative age-graded change across multiple measurement occasions and potentially pandemic-specific history-graded change. Multiple VoA indicators (personal VoA: attitude toward own aging, subjective age, awareness of age-related change [gains and losses]; general VoA: domain-specific age stereotypes) of 423 German adults aged 40 years and older were assessed across three prepandemic measurement occasions (2012, 2015, and 2017) and one occasion after the pandemic's outbreak (summer 2020). Normative age-graded changes and pandemic-specific changes were estimated and compared using longitudinal multilevel regression analyses. Both perceived age-related gains and age-related losses decreased between 2012 and 2017, but increased thereafter between 2017 and 2020. Further, the overall change trend toward less positive attitude toward own aging slowed down from 2017 to 2020. There was also a slight trend toward younger subjective ages from 2017 to 2020. For most age stereotypes, pandemic-specific trends indicated a shift toward more negative stereotypes. These findings suggest that pandemic-specific changes in VoA are multidirectional, comprising perceptions of both losses and gains. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Berlin Inventory of Caregiver Stress-Dementia (BICS-D).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dementia is becoming increasingly prevalent and family caregivers have been providing most of the care for persons with dementia. This caregiving is a mentally and physically demanding task. "The Berlin Inventory of Caregiver Stress-Dementia" (BICS-D) is a theory driven, multidimensional assessment which was developed as part of the Longitudinal Dementia Caregiver Stress Study (LEANDER). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The inventory consists of 25 subscales with a total of 121 items. Analyses of the psychometric properties of the inventory were based on responses from 594 caregivers. RESULTS: Factor analyses confirm the multidimensionality of the inventory. The reliabilities of the subscales (Cronbach's α) are between .72 and .95. Validity and sensitivity of the inventory were also confirmed. Differing patterns of burden could be demonstrated for different relatives (partners, children, and daughters-in-law) as well as for different degrees of severity of dementia. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The scores derived for the instrument have support for reliability and validity, and sensitivity to change. It is suitable for the differential measurement of burden experienced by different subgroups of caregivers as well as for the evaluation of interventions. The different subscales of the battery can also be used separately, depending on the study's objectives.

Assistive Technology and Mobile ICT Usage Among Oldest-Old Cohorts: Comparison of the Oldest-Old in Private Homes and in Long-Term Care Facilities.

This study examines technology adoption among oldest-old cohorts (80+) in private homes and long-term care facilities and analyzes relationships between individual characteristics, the living environment, and different kinds of assistive technologies (AT) and information and communication technologies (ICT). The data analysis is based on a representative survey of the oldest-old group's quality of life and well-being in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (N = 1,863; age range: 80-103; 12.7% long-term care). Descriptive and multiple binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. Fewer than 3% of people in long-term care used internet-connected ICT devices. AT and ICT device adoption is associated with the living environment and individual characteristics (e.g., functional health, chronological age, education, and technology interest), and different patterns of ICT and AT use can be observed. These results indicate that individual characteristics and the living environment are both decisive in the use of technology among the oldest-old group.

Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Devices Among the Oldest-Old: Loneliness, Anomie, and Autonomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A good person-environment-fit has positive effects on well-being in old age. As digital technologies are an integral part of older adults' environments, we predicted that the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) is associated with subjective well-being among the oldest-old. Specifically, we compared different user groups of ICT devices (nonusers, users of nonweb-connected ICT, users of web-connected ICT) and analyzed the relations among ICT use and three domains of subjective well-being (loneliness, anomie, autonomy). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a quantitative data analysis using data from the first representative state-wide survey study in North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany on quality of life and well-being of the oldest-old (n = 1,698; age range: 80-103; 9% long-term care). Multiple regression analyses were applied. RESULTS: The findings revealed that 25.9% of all individuals aged 80 years and older reported using web-connected ICT, in contrast to 38.5% who do not use ICT at all. Individuals who used web-connected ICT reported lower levels of loneliness and anomie, and higher levels of autonomy. These differences remain significant when controlling for indicators of social inclusion and individual characteristics. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: This study investigated an underexplored group in terms of ICT use, shedding light on the relationship between ICT use and subjective well-being. The oldest-old generally use ICT in their everyday life but an age-related digital divide still exists. To avoid negative consequences of nonuse digital infrastructures and technology training for older adults need to be established.

Relevance of Activity Tracking With Mobile Devices in the Relationship Between Physical Activity Levels and Satisfaction With Physical Fitness in Older Adults: Representative Survey.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity has been shown to positively affect many aspects of life, and the positive relationship between physical activity levels and health is well established. Recently, research on the interrelationship between physical activity levels and subjective experiences has gained attention. However, the underlying mechanisms that link physical activity levels with subjective experiences of physical fitness have not been sufficiently explained. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the role of physical activity tracking (PAT) in the relationship between physical activity levels and satisfaction with physical fitness in older adults. It is hypothesized that higher levels of physical activity are associated with a higher satisfaction with physical fitness in older adults and that this positive association is stronger for older people who use mobile devices for PAT. METHODS: As part of this study, 1013 participants aged 50 years or older and living in Switzerland were interviewed via computer-assisted telephone interviews. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were applied. The interaction effects between physical activity levels and PAT were evaluated using multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Descriptive analyses showed that 719 participants used at least 1 mobile device and that 136 out of 719 mobile device users (18.9%) used mobile devices for PAT. In the multivariate regression analysis, frequent physical activity was found to have a positive effect on satisfaction with physical fitness (beta=.24, P<.001). A significant interaction effect between physical activity levels and PAT (beta=.30, P=.03) provides some first evidence that the positive effects of physical activity on satisfaction with physical fitness can be enhanced by PAT. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the potential of PAT to enhance the physical fitness of older adults. However, the results also raise new issues in this context. Recommendations for further research and practice include the acquisition of longitudinal data, a more detailed observation of durations of use, and the development of devices for PAT considering health psychology and gerontology theories.

Who Is Still Playing Pokémon Go? A Web-Based Survey.

BACKGROUND: Poor physical activity is one of the major health care problems in Western civilizations. Various digital gadgets aiming to increase physical activity, such as activity trackers or fitness apps, have been introduced over recent years. The newest products are serious games that incorporate real-life physical activity into their game concept. Recent studies have shown that such games increase the physical activity of their users over the short term. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the motivational effects of the digital game "Pokémon Go" leading to continued use or abandonment of the game. The aim of the study was to determine aspects that motivate individuals to play augmented reality exergames and how this motivation can be used to strengthen the initial interest in physical activity. METHODS: A total of 199 participants completed an open self-selected Web-based survey. On the basis of their self-indicated assignment to one of three predefined user groups (active, former, and nonuser of Pokémon Go), participants answered various questions regarding game experience, physical activity, motivation, and personality as measured by the Big Five Inventory. RESULTS: In total, 81 active, 56 former, and 62 nonusers of Pokémon Go were recruited. When asked about the times they perform physical activity, active users stated that they were less physically active in general than former and nonusers. However, based on a subjective rating, active users were more motivated to be physically active due to playing Pokémon Go. Motivational aspects differed for active and former users, whereas fan status was the same within both groups. Active users are more motivated by features directly related to Pokémon, such as catching all possible Pokémon and reaching higher levels, whereas former users stress the importance of general game quality, such as better augmented reality and more challenges in the game. Personality did not affect whether a person started to play Pokémon Go nor their abandonment of the game. CONCLUSIONS: The results show various motivating elements that should be incorporated into augmented reality exergames based on the game Pokémon Go. We identified different user types for whom different features of the game contribute to maintained motivation or abandonment. Our results show aspects that augmented reality exergame designers should keep in mind to encourage individuals to start playing their game and facilitate long-term user engagement, resulting in a greater interest in physical activity.

The use of mobile devices for physical activity tracking in older adults' everyday life.

OBJECTIVE: The tracking of one's own physical activity with mobile devices is a way of monitoring and motivating oneself to remain healthy. Older adults' general use of mobile devices for physical activity tracking has not yet been examined systematically. The study aimed to describe the use of physical activity trackers, smartwatches and smartphones, or tablets for tracking physical activity and to examine the reasons for the use of these technologies. METHODS: Participants aged ≥50 years (N = 1013) living in Switzerland were interviewed in a telephone survey. To address the research questions, we calculated descriptive frequency distributions, tested for differences between groups, and performed logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Descriptive and multivariate analyses showed that (a) 20.5% of participants used mobile devices for physical activity tracking; (b) men, younger individuals, those with a strong interest in new technology, and those who frequently exercised had a higher likelihood of using mobile devices for physical activity tracking; and (c) participants more often agreed with reasons for use relating to tracking physical activity and motivating oneself to remain healthy than they did with reasons relating to social factors. CONCLUSIONS: The study presented representative data about the actual use of mobile tracking technology in persons over 50 years of age. Today, mainly active and younger elderly (mostly men) with a high interest in technology are using tracking technologies. Results indicate a need for further studies on motivational and usability aspects regarding the use of mobile health tracking devices by older adults.