Promoting health among adolescents with and without chronic illness through a serious game (emoTIChealth): An...

Introduction. Adolescence is a stage characterized by significant emotional, cognitive, and social changes. The presence of chronic physical illness during this period can increase the risk of psychological distress and negatively affect quality of life and the adoption of healthy habits. In this context, digital interventions based on serious games represent an innovative strategy for promoting health among adolescents. Objective: To describe the design and implementation protocol for emoTIChealth, a psychoeducational serious game aimed at adolescents aged 12-16, with and without chronic physical illnesses, designed to promote physical and emotional health, social-emotional skills, and healthy habits.Population and methods. A quasi-experimental, longitudinal, within-subject design with repeated measures at three time points. The intervention is structured around six areas: emotional awareness and regulation, cognitive coping, identity, social relationships and communication, and physical wellbeing. Psychological variables (such as health-related quality of life, self-concept, and resilience) will be assessed using validated instruments. Following the completion of emoTIChealth, we plan to evaluate pre- and post-intervention changes in indicators of health-related quality of life, socio-emotional skills, self-concept, resilience, and healthy habits, as well as a reduction in psychological symptoms. Conclusion. EmoTIChealth is an innovative digital intervention designed for educational and healthcare settings that holistically promotes adolescent health, regardless of whether the adolescent has a chronic illness or not, and its impact will be evaluated in a longitudinal quasi-experimental study currently in the implementation phase.