Gender differences in bodily experience: Insights from virtual reality body illusion

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Virtual Reality (VR) and Body Illusions enhance understanding of body experience.
• Previous research on Body Illusions primarily involved female participants.
• The impact of Body Illusions on male participants remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the gender-specific effects of VR Body Illusions on body satisfaction and size perception.
• To compare how men and women experience changes in body ownership and affective components.

Main Methods:

• 40 participants (20 females, 20 males) experienced visuo-tactile synchronous and asynchronous Body Illusions.
• Changes in body satisfaction and perceived body size (shoulders, hips, waist) were measured.

Main Results:

• Females exhibited higher initial body dissatisfaction and overestimation of body size.
• Females adjusted hip size perception and increased body satisfaction post-illusion.
• Males showed altered waist size perception only with synchronous stimulation, with no significant change in satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Women appear more sensitive to embodied VR experiences, possibly due to societal factors and self-objectification.
• Results highlight the need for gender-specific approaches in VR-based body image interventions.
• Findings support tailored VR programs for preventing and treating body image issues.