An interpretative phenomenological inquiry into older adults' experience of nature through virtual reality and its...

To explore older adults' lived experiences of nature through immersive virtual reality (VR) and its influence on their perceived well-being in care home settings.

Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), eight older adults (aged 85-98) residing in care homes engaged with 360-degree VR videos of natural environments. Data were collected via VR-assisted interviews and follow-up semi-structured interviews.

Participants reported a broad spectrum of complex emotional responses, ranging from relaxation and reminiscence to sadness and disconnection. Key experiential themes included immersion and escapism, emotional evocation, and reflections on limitations and loss.

The study reveals that virtual nature experiences can evoke emotionally complex responses, underscoring the need for individualised and context-sensitive implementation. It cautions against overstating VR's positive effects and calls for trauma-informed, age-appropriate approaches that take account of personal history and technological limitations. By openly reporting less favourable experiences, this study contributes to a more balanced evidence base and challenges prevailing publication bias in VR research.