Virtual reality (VR) usage continues to grow, but visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) can decrease VR effectiveness for some users. This study seeks to compare methods of VIMS mitigation and explore sickness among gender and video game experience groups. Participant discomfort and early dropout are problems for studies that involve virtual environment (VE) exposure, but previous research has demonstrated that natural decay and physical, real-world hand-eye coordination tasks can serve as effective mitigation strategies. In this study, 57 participants wore a head-mounted display (HMD) and navigated a maze VE designed to induce cybersickness. Participants then experienced one of four mitigation techniques: real natural decay (HMD off), virtual natural decay (HMD on with idyllic VE and no locomotion), real hand-eye coordination task (HMD off), and virtual hand-eye coordination task (HMD on). Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) measures were taken periodically throughout maze and mitigation tasks. Results demonstrated that peak sickness during the maze VE occurred after approximately 10 min. Analyses of mitigation techniques showed that real natural decay resulted in significantly more sickness recovery when compared with the virtual hand-eye coordination task for SSQ total score, nausea, and oculomotor constructs, but not disorientation. The real natural decay technique was the most effective at bringing participants' final sickness measure back to their initial baseline measure; however, other mitigation techniques yielded effectiveness, but at a lower rate. This study extends previous research about hand-eye mitigation approaches by demonstrating that natural decay and hand-eye tasks in a virtual and real-world setting were effective in reducing VIMS. Real-world natural decay was the most effective at mitigating VIMS, and the virtual hand-eye task was not as effective as the other three tasks. Women experienced more VIMS than men did but also recovered than men did during mitigation. Video gamers experienced less VIMS than non-gamers. These findings bolster extant knowledge about VIMS mitigation techniques and can inform future development of virtual mitigation techniques.

Abstract:Oral history provides researchers opportunities to assess narratives and compare them to existing theories of aging. Oftentimes the discussion of psychosocial theories of aging does not include the oldest-old. The purpose of this study was to assess evidence of psychosocial theories of aging within oral history narratives from a subsample of 20 centenarians from the Oklahoma 100 Year Life Oral History Project. Analysis utilized seven theories: Activity Theory, Continuity Theory, Disengagement Theory, Theory of Gerotranscendence, Modernization Theory, Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC) Theory, and Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (SST). Researchers used content analysis to assess each oral history narrative and noted Activity Theory and Gerotranscendence had the most evidence. Most centenarians described how they were extremely active well into older adulthood. Common themes across oral history narratives indicated that centenarians maintained a preference for activity such as formal work. Centenarians also reported a readiness for death and little fear of it. In addition, increased time spent reflecting on spirituality and religion indicated changes in self-discovery. Identification of Disengagement and Socioemotional Selectivity were sparse in the transcripts. It is possible that to reach such longevity, centenarians relied on their communities and support networks to achieve this status. It is also possible that centenarians outlived individuals in their social networks who were emotionally fulfilling. Further qualitative work should assess evidence of psychosocial theories among other long-lived older adults.

The purpose of this study was to identify relationships between health personality traits, consumer health activation (CHAI) and loneliness. Data for these analyses were collected by a large provider of Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance. The study consisted of 3,907 participants, 65 years and older. Participants were surveyed on health personality (e.g., Health Neuroticism, Health Extraversion, Health Openness, Health Agreeableness, and Health Conscientiousness), Consumer Health Activation, and Loneliness. Structural equation modeling and mediation were conducted through Mplus. The hypothesized model fit without direct paths from health personality to loneliness was not optimal. Adding direct paths from health neuroticism, health openness, and health agreeableness to loneliness resulted in an excellent fit, □2 (5) = 0.86, RMSEA = 0.00, CFI = 1.00. Health neuroticism and health openness were negatively related to health activation, which suggests respondents were less likely to be active about their health. Alternatively, health agreeableness and health conscientiousness were positively related to health activation, indicating more health activation. Mediation was tested for pathways from health personality dispositions to loneliness through health activation. The results suggest individuals higher in health neuroticism or health openness were less activated, which in turn indicated higher loneliness. Moreover, those higher in health agreeableness or health conscientiousness were more activated and indicated less loneliness. This study provides an understanding about loneliness through health personality and health activation. Future research should explore interventions for older adults with specific health personalities, or health activation to reduce loneliness levels.

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