Nature in virtual reality improves mood and reduces stress: evidence from young adults and senior citizens.
Virtual Real
; : 1-16, 2021 Nov 26.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1826523
ABSTRACT
Large populations worldwide have been deprived from nature experiences due to mass quarantines and lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, and face a looming mental health crisis. Virtual reality offers a safe and practical solution to increase nature exposure. This research examined the effects of virtual nature using a within-subject design with young adults (Study 1) and senior citizens (Study 2). Results from the young adult sample showed that walking in a virtual forest reduced negative affect due to enhanced nature connectedness, and reduced stress measured by heart rate. Consistently, the senior citizen sample reported improved positive affect due to enhanced nature connectedness after the virtual nature walk. Our findings unveil the underlying mechanism of how virtual nature may improve psychological well-being and demonstrated how virtual nature can be used as an intervention to promote mental health. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10055-021-00604-4.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Qualitative research
Language:
English
Journal:
Virtual Real
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S10055-021-00604-4
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