Dimensions of User Experience Theories, Models, and Frameworks in Exergames for Older Adults: A Systematic Literature Review

With the global aging population, research on exergames for healthy aging has grown. Yet the use of theories, models, and frameworks (TMFs) in research on older adults’ user experience (UX) remains fragmented, limiting the development of theory-driven studies. Following PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review analyzed 25 peer-reviewed journal articles published over the past decade. It identified 30 TMFs across five domains: technology acceptance and usability, design and development, motivational psychology, health and gerontology, and cognitive-motor science. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), user-centred design (UCD), and self-determination theory (SDT) were used most often. However, theory use was frequently superficial and uneven. UX evaluations were generally cross-sectional, while studies were concentrated in Europe and East Asia. Future research should develop and validate a multidimensional, dynamic framework that integrates embodied interaction, age-related characteristics, and sociocultural context. Its applicability should be examined through longitudinal studies in culturally diverse real-world settings.