In-game play behaviours during an applied video game for anxiety prevention predict successful intervention outcomes

In the current study, we examined to what extent engagement with the therapeutic techniques in an applied game for anxiety prevention (i.e., MindLight) predicts changes in anxiety symptoms. On-screen videotaped output while playing MindLight was coded and analysed for forty-three 8 to 12-year old children with elevated levels of anxiety. Results showed that changes in in-game play behaviours representing therapeutic exposure techniques predicted improvements in anxiety symptoms 3 months later (when children had not played the game for 3 months). This dataset includes the data used to obtain the results as presented in the research paper, including age, gender, anxiety symptoms, and coded in-game play behaviours.