title: Evaluation of a Digital Game-Based Learning Program for Enhancing Youth Mental Health: A Structural Equation Modeling of the Program Effectiveness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Digital game-based learning (DGBL) makes use of the entertaining power of digital games for educational purposes. Effectiveness assessment of DGBL programs has been underexplored and no attempt has been made to simultaneously model both important components of DGBL: learning attainment (ie, educational purposes of DGBL) and engagement of users (ie, entertaining power of DGBL) in evaluating program effectiveness.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to describe and evaluate an Internet-based DGBL program, Professor Gooley and the Flame of Mind, which promotes mental health to adolescents in a positive youth development approach. In particular, we investigated whether user engagement in the DGBL program could enhance their attainment on each of the learning constructs per DGBL module and subsequently enhance their mental health as measured by psychological well-being.
  
  
  METHODS
  Users were assessed on their attainment on each learning construct, psychological well-being, and engagement in each of the modules. One structural equation model was constructed for each DGBL module to model the effect of users' engagement and attainment on the learning construct on their psychological well-being.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 498 secondary school students that registered and participated from the first module of the DGBL program, 192 completed all 8 modules of the program. Results from structural equation modeling suggested that a higher extent of engagement in the program activities facilitated users' attainment on the learning constructs on most of the modules and in turn enhanced their psychological well-being after controlling for users' initial psychological well-being and initial attainment on the constructs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provided evidence that Internet intervention for mental health, implemented with the technologies and digital innovations of DGBL, could enhance youth mental health. Structural equation modeling is a promising approach in evaluating the effectiveness of DGBL programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China (Hong Kong).
authors.forename: Jenny My
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7189-5284
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Huen
authors.forename: Eliza Sy
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5020-3717
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Angie Ky
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6571-1231
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Shum
authors.forename: Sam Wk
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3806-8994
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Melissa Ky
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5578-543X
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Paul Wc
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3388-6285
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Y W
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5165-8193
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Paul Sf
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7635-7407
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Yip
keywords: Internet; digital game-based learning; mental health; program evaluation