Virtual reality relaxation for stress in young adults

I am excited to share our latest work on VR relaxation. I led a study that explored the potential of virtual reality relaxation for reducing stress in young adults, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to assess how feasible and acceptable VR relaxation is when used at home. Participants in their early to mid-twenties used VR daily, experiencing calming virtual environments like beaches and mountains. Their psychological well-being was measured before and after each session.

Key findings include:

• Short-term Benefits: Participants experienced significant improvements in relaxation, happiness, and a sense of connection to nature. They also reported reductions in stress, anxiety, and sadness.

• Feasibility and Acceptability: Despite some technical issues and decreasing interest over time, VR relaxation was found to be a practical and enjoyable stress management tool for young adults.

• Remote Delivery: The study indicated that delivering VR headsets and collecting data remotely is practical, and that young adults would engage in VR relaxation at home.

Challenges suggest that a less rigid usage schedule might be more appealing. To maintain engagement, future research could explore the optimal frequency of VR use and ways to enhance the VR experience with more interactive elements and a wider variety of virtual environments.

Overall, VR relaxation shows promise as an effective stress reduction tool for young adults, especially in high-stress situations. There is huge potential for future research and development that focuses on long-term impact, maintaining engagement, and expanding the applications of VR for stress management.

The study was published in the Journal of Technology in Behavioural Science.

You can read the published article here.

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