The Role of Immersive Experience in Anxiety Reduction: Evidence from Virtual Reality Sessions
Background/Objectives: Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative technology with the potential to transform digital experiences, particularly in relation to mental health concerns such as anxiety. Therefore, this study investigates the potential of a newly designed VR experience to alleviate anxiety by...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/14 |
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| author | Dominika Wilczyńska Tamara Walczak-Kozłowska David Alarcón María José Arenilla Jose Carlos Jaenes Marcelina Hejła Mariusz Lipowski Joanna Nestorowicz Henryk Olszewski |
| author_facet | Dominika Wilczyńska Tamara Walczak-Kozłowska David Alarcón María José Arenilla Jose Carlos Jaenes Marcelina Hejła Mariusz Lipowski Joanna Nestorowicz Henryk Olszewski |
| author_sort | Dominika Wilczyńska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Objectives: Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative technology with the potential to transform digital experiences, particularly in relation to mental health concerns such as anxiety. Therefore, this study investigates the potential of a newly designed VR experience to alleviate anxiety by focusing on the mediating role of VR-induced immersion. Methods: The study included 419 individuals aged 10 to 80 years, with 29 aged 10–15 years and 390 above 15 years, who were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups on the basis of project-defined criteria, including a random allocation to the wheelchair-using group. Both groups used goggles for virtual space navigation, with the experimental group employing a multijoint arm mounted on an aluminum frame and special algorithms to navigate without controllers. We assessed immersion in VR using the Polish adaptation of the Immersion Questionnaire and anxiety using the Polish adaptations of the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-X1) and its early adolescent version, the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory–Children (STAI-C1). Results and Conclusions: The results indicate that individuals using the new VR device demonstrated increased immersion and reduced post-test anxiety levels, highlighting the significance of immersion in enhancing positive affect, mitigating the negative effects of VR technology, and offering insights for future development and refinement of VR solutions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4c537106aed2496eabef757c8b8f7d3f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-4c537106aed2496eabef757c8b8f7d3f2025-01-24T13:25:40ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252024-12-011511410.3390/brainsci15010014The Role of Immersive Experience in Anxiety Reduction: Evidence from Virtual Reality SessionsDominika Wilczyńska0Tamara Walczak-Kozłowska1David Alarcón2María José Arenilla3Jose Carlos Jaenes4Marcelina Hejła5Mariusz Lipowski6Joanna Nestorowicz7Henryk Olszewski8Faculty of Social and Humanities, University WSB Merito, 80-266 Gdańsk, PolandDepartment of Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Gdansk, 80-309 Gdańsk, PolandSocial Anthropology, Basic Psychology and Public Health Department, Pablo de Olavide University, 41013 Sevilla, SpainSocial Anthropology, Basic Psychology and Public Health Department, Pablo de Olavide University, 41013 Sevilla, SpainSocial Anthropology, Basic Psychology and Public Health Department, Pablo de Olavide University, 41013 Sevilla, SpainDepartment of Physical Culture, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, 80-336 Gdańsk, PolandInstitute of Polish Herbal Medicine and Natural Therapies, 97-360 Kamieńsk, PolandInstitute of Polish Herbal Medicine and Natural Therapies, 97-360 Kamieńsk, PolandDepartment of Psychology and Developmental Psychopathology, University of Gdansk, 80-309 Gdańsk, PolandBackground/Objectives: Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative technology with the potential to transform digital experiences, particularly in relation to mental health concerns such as anxiety. Therefore, this study investigates the potential of a newly designed VR experience to alleviate anxiety by focusing on the mediating role of VR-induced immersion. Methods: The study included 419 individuals aged 10 to 80 years, with 29 aged 10–15 years and 390 above 15 years, who were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups on the basis of project-defined criteria, including a random allocation to the wheelchair-using group. Both groups used goggles for virtual space navigation, with the experimental group employing a multijoint arm mounted on an aluminum frame and special algorithms to navigate without controllers. We assessed immersion in VR using the Polish adaptation of the Immersion Questionnaire and anxiety using the Polish adaptations of the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-X1) and its early adolescent version, the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory–Children (STAI-C1). Results and Conclusions: The results indicate that individuals using the new VR device demonstrated increased immersion and reduced post-test anxiety levels, highlighting the significance of immersion in enhancing positive affect, mitigating the negative effects of VR technology, and offering insights for future development and refinement of VR solutions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/14virtual realityimmersionemotional statewheelchair condition |
| spellingShingle | Dominika Wilczyńska Tamara Walczak-Kozłowska David Alarcón María José Arenilla Jose Carlos Jaenes Marcelina Hejła Mariusz Lipowski Joanna Nestorowicz Henryk Olszewski The Role of Immersive Experience in Anxiety Reduction: Evidence from Virtual Reality Sessions Brain Sciences virtual reality immersion emotional state wheelchair condition |
| title | The Role of Immersive Experience in Anxiety Reduction: Evidence from Virtual Reality Sessions |
| title_full | The Role of Immersive Experience in Anxiety Reduction: Evidence from Virtual Reality Sessions |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Immersive Experience in Anxiety Reduction: Evidence from Virtual Reality Sessions |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Immersive Experience in Anxiety Reduction: Evidence from Virtual Reality Sessions |
| title_short | The Role of Immersive Experience in Anxiety Reduction: Evidence from Virtual Reality Sessions |
| title_sort | role of immersive experience in anxiety reduction evidence from virtual reality sessions |
| topic | virtual reality immersion emotional state wheelchair condition |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/14 |
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