抄録
With the evolution of game console, it has been argued that playing video games decreases the opportunity for children to engage in physical activity. However, physical interactive sports video games could be possible triggers for children to actually participate in sports. This study attempted to explore the effect of interactive sports video games on sports participation by children. Online questionnaire data was gathered from a group of parents (N=412) who had a child/children of elementary age and owned Wii Sports and/or Wii Sports Resort, a collection of interactive sports video games simulating different physical sports. The experience of about half the respondents (n=201) was that their child/children insisted on playing an actual sport because of the physical interactive sports video games. In addition, the experience of 61.7% of those respondents (n=124) was that their child/children took up a sport that was included in the video game. The respondents also recognized the positive influence of the physical interactive sports video games, when compared with general sports video games. Further analyses revealed that the probability of which the physical interactive sports video game drives children to actually play rises with the parents＇ positive attitude toward and experience in a particular sport. The study suggested the probability that the participation process in a sport by children is influenced by not only traditional agents of socialization into sports such as their parents but also their interactive sports video games.
