Impact of Virtual Reality Environments on Stress Recovery, Affect, and Proenvironmental Attitudes in Adolescents

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of different virtual environments on stress recovery, affect regulation, and proenvironmental attitudes in adolescents.

A total of 64 adolescents aged 10 to 19 were recruited. After standardized stress induction, participants were randomly assigned to one of four virtual environments (green space, blue space, indoor classroom, or urban street) created using virtual reality technology. Participants experienced a 10-minute immersive experiences in each environment. Physiological responses were measured using electrocardiography and electrodermal activity, whereas psychological changes were assessed through the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule affect scale, the stress subscale, and the proenvironmental attitudes scale.

All virtual environments significantly alleviated the stress and negative affect. Among these, the virtual natural environments (green and blue space) showed the most pronounced effects in promoting stress recovery, enhancing positive affect, and improving proenvironmental attitudes.

Virtual natural environments offer significant benefits for both psychological and physiological recovery in adolescents. This provides empirical support for the design of school-based stress-reduction interventions and environmental education programs. Interventions based on virtual nature should be integrated into school curricula as tools for stress management and environmental education.