Gamified Exercise in Virtual Reality: A Novel Intervention for Enhancing Mental Health and Reducing Suicidal Ideation in Older Adults

Background: Suicide is a major issue among individuals aged 60 and above, often linked to reduced life motivation and life expectancy. Innovative interventions are needed, and this study explores the impact of gamified Virtual Reality (VR) exercise on improving life expectancy in older adults with suicidal ideation. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test evaluations was conducted on 72 older men recruited through convenience sampling. A standardized life expectancy questionnaire was used. Due to heterogeneous variances, ANCOVA was deemed inappropriate, and a Shapiro-Wilk test was performed to assess normality. A parametric Student's t-test was used to analyze group differences. Results: The experimental group showed significantly higher life expectancy compared to the control group (t (58.219) = -26.693, p < 0.001), confirming the intervention's effectiveness. Conclusions: Gamified VR exercise improves motivation and adherence to physical activity, significantly enhancing life expectancy among older adults with suicidal ideation. This non-pharmacological approach also holds promise for managing other psychological disorders and expanding research in this field.