Stress Response to Nature Exposure Real Versus Virtual

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Human Health
• Virtual Reality Technology

Background:

• Exposure to nature positively impacts mental and physical health, reducing stress.
• Accessibility barriers limit many individuals' access to natural environments.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers a potential alternative for nature-based interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effects of real-world nature exposure versus VR nature exposure on stress levels.
• To investigate physiological and self-reported stress responses to different nature exposure modalities.

Main Methods:

• Pilot study utilizing a two-treatment crossover design.
• Participants experienced both a real natural setting and the same setting via VR.
• Measured outcomes included blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol, and perceived stress.

Main Results:

• Both real and virtual nature exposure significantly decreased perceived stress and blood pressure.
• Post-exposure acute stress was significantly higher after VR exposure compared to real nature exposure.
• Virtual reality nature exposure may be a viable option for individuals with limited access to natural environments.

Conclusions:

• Both real-world and virtual reality nature experiences show potential as stress management techniques.
• While both modalities reduce stress, real nature exposure resulted in lower post-exposure acute stress.
• VR can serve as a valuable tool for stress management, particularly for those unable to access natural settings.