Mobile-Based Gamified Physical Activity in Secondary Education (Gamification)

June 13, 2026 updated by: NİMET HAŞIL KORKMAZ, Uludag University

The Effect of a Mobile-Based Gamified Physical Activity Programme on Physical Activity, Health-Related Physical Fitness, and Physical Literacy Levels in Secondary School Students: A Six-Month Longitudinal Study

Physical activity (PA) is critical for children's physical, psychological, social and cognitive health. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that children aged 5-17 engage in 60 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per day. However, 81% of children worldwide, 58% of children in Turkey, and 80% of adolescents do not meet these recommendations. Physical inactivity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and metabolic disorders, causing millions of deaths each year. Therefore, school-based interventions offer an important opportunity to improve children's PA, health-related physical fitness, and physical literacy (3F) levels.

In recent years, the concept of physical literacy and mobile-based gamification applications have come to the fore. Gamification increases motivation and improves PA levels through elements such as points, badges, levels, and leaderboards. The literature indicates that gamified applications have positive effects on step count and exercise habits. However, research on physical fitness and literacy dimensions remains limited. In this context, the aim of the project is to examine the effects of a 12-week gamified mobile-based physical activity programme on 3F in secondary school students.

The research will be conducted with 54 students at a state secondary school in Bursa, and participants will be divided into three groups: the gamified experimental group (GE), the non-gamified experimental group (NG), and the control group (CG). The physical activity programme will consist of daily step targets and weekly exercises, and students will be monitored via the mobile application called 'Time to Move' and a portfolio notebook. The gamification group will use points, badges, levels and a leaderboard, and physical activity homework will also be assigned outside of school. The study will include pre-tests, post-tests and 12-week follow-up measurements.

The unique value of the project lies in fostering PA habits through a gamified mobile application, determining 3F levels and examining their effects on these levels, and ensuring the sustainable monitoring of a school-based programme with the support of a mobile application and portfolio. The main objective of the research is to support behavioural change in secondary school students, make PA a lifestyle, and foster healthy living habits in the long term.

Study Overview

Status

Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

54

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Nilüfer
      • Bursa, Nilüfer, Turkey (Türkiye), 16120
        • Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Bursa Uludağ University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Students in the 6th grade
  • Not having participated in any regular, structured physical activity for approximately 6 months before the study period.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Anyone with a health problem
  • Going to any sports club in the near future

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control Group (CG)
Participants will not receive any structured physical activity intervention and will continue their usual daily lifestyle throughout the study period.
Experimental: Gamified Experimental Group (GEG)
Participants will walk daily for 12 weeks to achieve a predetermined step goal, perform exercise program for at least 15-20 minutes on least three days per week, and use a "Time To Move" gamified application to support walking and exercise activities.
Behavioral: Gamified Mobile Application
Use of a gamified application designed to promote motivation, adherence, and engagement in a physical activity program (walking and exercise activities) during the 12-week intervention period.
Behavioral: Physical Activity Program

The Physical Activity Program consists of a daily step goal and an exercise goal.

Step Goal: Walk daily for 12 weeks to achieve a predetermined step goal. Exercise Goal: Exercise program performed for at least 15-20 minutes on least three designated days per week for 12 weeks, in addition to daily walking.
Experimental: Non-gamified Experimental Group (NEG)
Participants will walk daily for 12 weeks to achieve a predetermined step goal, perform exercise program for at least 20-25 minutes on least three days per week.
Behavioral: Physical Activity Program

The Physical Activity Program consists of a daily step goal and an exercise goal.

Step Goal: Walk daily for 12 weeks to achieve a predetermined step goal. Exercise Goal: Exercise program performed for at least 15-20 minutes on least three designated days per week for 12 weeks, in addition to daily walking.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Daily Step Goal (Daily Step Count Measured by Yamax PW-610/611 Power Walker Pedometer)
Time Frame: Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in average daily step count from baseline to 12 weeks, measured using the Yamax PW-610/611 Power Walker pedometer (Tokyo, Japan).
Baseline to 12 weeks
Exercise Goal (Exercise Goal Adherence Measured by the Time To Move Gamified Mobile Application and Portfolio Logbook)
Time Frame: Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in adherence to the exercise goal in a physical activity program, as assessed using the Time To Move gamified mobile application and portfolio logbook, from baseline to 12 weeks.
Baseline to 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
CAPL-2 Physical Literacy Level (Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy)
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Physical literacy level measured by CAPL-2 total score at baseline and post-intervention. The total CAPL-2 score ranges from 0 points (poor physical literacy) to 100 points (excellent physical literacy).
Baseline and 12 weeks
Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C)
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Physical activity level measured by Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) score. On the PAQ-C, a score of 5 indicates the highest level of physical activity, while a score of 1 indicates the lowest level of physical activity.
Baseline and 12 weeks
Health-Related Physical Fitness Measured by the FitnessGram Test Battery (Sit-Up Test, Push-Up Test, Trunk Lift Test, and Anthropometric Measurements)
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in health-related physical fitness from baseline to 12 weeks, assessed using the FitnessGram Test Battery, including the Sit-Up Test (abdominal muscular endurance), Push-Up Test (upper body muscular endurance), Trunk Lift Test (trunk extensor strength and flexibility), and anthropometric measurements (e.g., body composition indicators).
Baseline and 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Uludag University

Collaborators

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 23, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 29, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 13, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 13, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2026-02
  • 325K162 (Other Identifier: TUBITAK 1002-A)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Ethical issues

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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