Pause & Refresh: formative evaluation of a virtual nature initiative to tackle stress among university students

Background: Immersive Virtual Nature (IVN) can provide psychological benefits such as stress relief and foster engagement with nature. Methods: Through a mixed methods approach with sequential explanatory design, we conducted a formative evaluation of an IVN initiative for university students, including a prototype testing trial (n = 54), focus groups with students and experts (n = 7), and a workshop with representatives of the Student Welfare Organization. Results: The integrated findings indicated that the IVN experience was associated with stress relief and increased nature connectedness, though its potential to encourage nature visits was limited. Some issues (e.g., a wish for more variation) and technical challenges (e.g., somewhat poor video and sound quality) were highlighted, alongside suggestions on how to best deliver the initiative on campus. Discussion: This study provides novel knowledge about IVN as a means of health promotion among university students, emphasizing the value of adopting participatory approaches when designing IVN-based initiatives.