Investigating the Impact of Digital Game Immersion on Post-Work Recovery

Abstract

Digital games have been demonstrated to promote recovery from daily work strain. However, prior research has not examined the role that player experience (PX) plays in post-work recovery despite the fact that theories in this area rely implicitly on PX concepts. Hence, this research seeks to understand how the experience of immersion shapes the recovery potential of digital games. An overview of the planned program of research, alongside the results of an initial mixed-methods survey study, are outlined here. The results suggest that immersion is broadly beneficial for recovery, though this is contingent on contextual factors, and that players actively optimise their immersion levels to maximise recovery. These findings, and those of future studies, will extend previous research by empirically testing the PX-based mechanisms by which games are assumed to promote recovery, as well as offering design implications for creators of serious games for recovery purposes.