Nature-based virtual reality relaxation to improve mental health and sleep in undergraduate students: A randomized controlled trial
Background Undergraduate students are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems due to academic pressure, financial concerns, and interpersonal stressors. Nature-based virtual reality (VR) technologies, which replicate natural settings, may offer psychological benefits by compensating for li...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Digital Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251365140 |
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| _version_ | 1849236114016043008 |
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| author | Junggeun Ahn Jiu Kim Youngeun Park Riah Kim Heeseung Choi |
| author_facet | Junggeun Ahn Jiu Kim Youngeun Park Riah Kim Heeseung Choi |
| author_sort | Junggeun Ahn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Undergraduate students are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems due to academic pressure, financial concerns, and interpersonal stressors. Nature-based virtual reality (VR) technologies, which replicate natural settings, may offer psychological benefits by compensating for limited access to real-world natural environments in urban contexts. Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nature-based VR relaxation program in improving mental health and sleep outcomes among Korean undergraduate students. Method Participants from five Korean universities were randomly assigned to one of three groups: VR relaxation, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), or wait-list control. Self-reported measures of depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and sleep patterns were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. Objective sleep efficiency was assessed using wrist-worn actigraphy devices. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations to examine changes over time and between groups. Results A total of 41 participants completed the study. The VR intervention group showed significant reductions in perceived stress levels ( p = .001) and improvements in subjective sleep patterns ( p = .046), with these effects sustained at follow-up. Notably, sleep efficiency measured via actigraphy improved significantly in the PMR group compared to the other groups ( p = .033). Conclusions A nature-based VR relaxation program appears to be an effective digital intervention for reducing stress and enhancing subjective sleep quality among undergraduate students. These findings highlight the potential of nature-simulating digital environments to support mental health and wellness in settings with limited access to natural spaces. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c8525ec430984f058d25440e69db5def |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2055-2076 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-c8525ec430984f058d25440e69db5def2025-08-20T04:02:28ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762025-08-011110.1177/20552076251365140Nature-based virtual reality relaxation to improve mental health and sleep in undergraduate students: A randomized controlled trialJunggeun Ahn0Jiu Kim1Youngeun Park2Riah Kim3Heeseung Choi4 College of Nursing, , Seoul, Republic of Korea College of Nursing, , Seoul, Republic of Korea Center for World-leading Human-Caring Nurse Leaders for the Future by Brain Korea 21 (BK21) Four Project, , Seoul, Republic of Korea Korea Armed Forces Nursing Academy, Daejeon, Republic of Korea Research Institute of Nursing Science, , Seoul, Republic of KoreaBackground Undergraduate students are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems due to academic pressure, financial concerns, and interpersonal stressors. Nature-based virtual reality (VR) technologies, which replicate natural settings, may offer psychological benefits by compensating for limited access to real-world natural environments in urban contexts. Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nature-based VR relaxation program in improving mental health and sleep outcomes among Korean undergraduate students. Method Participants from five Korean universities were randomly assigned to one of three groups: VR relaxation, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), or wait-list control. Self-reported measures of depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and sleep patterns were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. Objective sleep efficiency was assessed using wrist-worn actigraphy devices. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations to examine changes over time and between groups. Results A total of 41 participants completed the study. The VR intervention group showed significant reductions in perceived stress levels ( p = .001) and improvements in subjective sleep patterns ( p = .046), with these effects sustained at follow-up. Notably, sleep efficiency measured via actigraphy improved significantly in the PMR group compared to the other groups ( p = .033). Conclusions A nature-based VR relaxation program appears to be an effective digital intervention for reducing stress and enhancing subjective sleep quality among undergraduate students. These findings highlight the potential of nature-simulating digital environments to support mental health and wellness in settings with limited access to natural spaces.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251365140 |
| spellingShingle | Junggeun Ahn Jiu Kim Youngeun Park Riah Kim Heeseung Choi Nature-based virtual reality relaxation to improve mental health and sleep in undergraduate students: A randomized controlled trial Digital Health |
| title | Nature-based virtual reality relaxation to improve mental health and sleep in undergraduate students: A randomized controlled trial |
| title_full | Nature-based virtual reality relaxation to improve mental health and sleep in undergraduate students: A randomized controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Nature-based virtual reality relaxation to improve mental health and sleep in undergraduate students: A randomized controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nature-based virtual reality relaxation to improve mental health and sleep in undergraduate students: A randomized controlled trial |
| title_short | Nature-based virtual reality relaxation to improve mental health and sleep in undergraduate students: A randomized controlled trial |
| title_sort | nature based virtual reality relaxation to improve mental health and sleep in undergraduate students a randomized controlled trial |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251365140 |
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