Immersive virtual reality: An effective strategy for reducing stress in young adults

Abstract

Background: Psychological stress is ubiquitous in young adults, but traditional relaxation strategies such as mindfulness or meditation are not consistently utilised. Immersive virtual reality (VR) is being increasingly used in mental health contexts with improved clinical outcomes. However, there is limited research exploring the perceived usefulness of VR for individuals without a mental health diagnosis. Aim: To identify if an immersive VR experience was effective in reducing stress for young adults and to explore the experience of the participants. Methods: Twenty-one young adults aged 18–25 years participated in an immersive VR experience. Heart rate was measured pre- and post-test to objectively establish the efficacy of VR to facilitate relaxation. Participants were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview ( n = 18) to gain a rich understanding of their experience. Results: Four themes emerged from analysis of the interviews: I felt relaxed and calm, It was time-efficient and easy to use, It took me to another place and It was different than I thought it would be. Heart rate reduced during the immersive VR experience. Conclusion: These findings suggest that immersive VR can reduce psychological stress, and it is perceived by young adults as a useful and time-effective strategy to reduce psychological stress.

Virtual Reality Relaxation for Stress in Young Adults: A Remotely Delivered Pilot Study in Participants’ Homes

“…A recent study shows that exposure to a virtual forest reduces stress and negative affect in young adults after two supervised laboratory sessions (Chan et al, 2021). Decrease in heart rate and reduced psychological stress are reported in another study where young adults are exposed to virtual environment of a beach scene during a single 15-min laboratory-based VR session (McGarry et al, 2023). The incorporation of waterfall sounds into a virtual forest was also found to relieve anxiety states in university students (Hsieh et al, 2023).…”