FIU Researchers Investigate Video Game as Intervention for Teen Anxiety

At Florida International University (FIU), researchers at the Center for Children and Families are evaluating the efficacy of a video game called Eco-Rescue in aiding teens to enhance their attention control and reduce anxiety. This collaborative effort with the University of Geneva marks FIU as the first site in the U.S. to conduct a clinical trial using this game.

Jeremy Pettit, a psychology professor and executive director of the Center, highlighted the joint expertise between the two institutions—cognitive training and game design from Geneva, and clinical trial experience from FIU—aiming to rigorously assess the game’s effectiveness.

The study builds on previous findings that link anxiety with attention management difficulties. Pettit's prior research indicates that enhancing attention-related skills can alleviate anxiety symptoms, particularly in teens who may not respond well to conventional therapies.

Unlike existing video game-based programs for conditions such as ADHD, Eco-Rescue is tailored specifically for the cognitive processes associated with anxiety. Pettit noted that adolescents are already heavily engaged with digital media, making this project a relevant intervention grounded in scientific principles.

Players in Eco-Rescue assume the role of a pilot tasked with restoring damaged environments, requiring them to track moving objects, adapt to sudden changes, and juggle multiple tasks. The challenges escalate as players advance, fostering engagement while targeting skills related to attention and emotional regulation.

Currently, Pettit and his team are recruiting 50 adolescents aged 11 to 15 at the FIU site, with a goal of enrolling 150 participants across the trial. This age range is critical as anxiety disorders typically emerge before age 15, coinciding with significant brain development.

Participants will be divided into three groups: one will play Eco-Rescue at home, another will engage with a different non-attention-focused game, and a control group will refrain from playing any game over the six-week study. Those in the Eco-Rescue group will play for approximately 30 minutes a day, four days a week, totaling around 12 hours.

At the trial's conclusion, researchers will evaluate any improvements in attention control, emotion regulation, and anxiety symptoms. Pettit emphasizes that this study represents a novel approach to attention-based treatments, with the potential to provide a valuable tool for adolescents facing anxiety.

If proven effective, Eco-Rescue could become a more accessible mental health resource, particularly for families with limited access to traditional care solutions. This initiative is also part of a larger international effort involving collaborators from the University of Haifa and Yale University.

Families interested in participating can reach out to the Child Anxiety and Phobia Program at FIU's Center for Children and Families at 305-348-1937 or submit an interest form online.