Massachusetts

End Date December 31, 2023

Primary Contact Tara Daly

Email gamerfit@merrimack.edu

Phone (978) 837-5017

Study Details

Principal Investigators at Merrimack College & Pennington Biomedical Research Center are conducting an NIH (R21) funded research study aiming to improve physical activity levels, sleep, and mental health for teens with an ADHD and/or mental health diagnoses. Teens will play active video games (exergames) 3x/week and will check in with their health coach 1x/week through the app provided. The whole program will take 12 weeks.

Teen Participation Eligibility Requirements:

• Teens (ages 14-17) who live at home in Massachusetts and have received an ADHD and/or mental health diagnosis from a clinical provider.
• Teens must have access to a tablet or mobile device to download the app and participate in virtual coaching sessions.
• Teens must be able to communicate and use video game systems and mobile applications in English.
• A parent/guardian must be to join all coaching sessions with their teen. Teens will complete all physical activity and health coaching sessions remotely in their home with a parent or guardian.
• If a parent does not communicate in English, they will be required to have a translator also be present.
• Teens with eating disorders or who are pregnant are not eligible. Youth with severe depression or suicidality will be excluded.

Recruitment and intervention start times will occur on a rolling basis to accommodate family scheduling constraints. If enrolled in the study, participants will have a 50/50 chance of being assigned to the intervention group or to the control group. The control group will receive a Fitbit, reminders, and a packet of health tips. Participants should ideally be able to wear the Fitbit for the duration of the study. A video game console will be provided if one is not available in the home.