Experiences of Nature Through Immersive Virtual Reality Among People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

This study explores experiences of spending time in immersive virtual reality with a natural environment among individuals with type 2 diabetes, aiming to enhance perceived wellbeing and reduce perceived stress. Seventeen participants with type 2 diabetes took part in a multimodal lifestyle education program and used immersive virtual reality with natural environment over a six-month period, selecting from a number of 30 min serene natural environments. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Participants described immersive virtual reality with a natural environment experience as providing tranquility, inspiration, and a sense of transcending time and space (A). Feelings of calm and mental withdrawal from everyday demands were often reported (A2), and memories were evoked (A2). Some participants experienced these effects as extending beyond the immersive virtual reality with natural environment sessions themselves (A3-4). At the same time, several factors were identified that could disrupt the restorative experience (A5), including technical issues, individual preferences for specific environments, health- or situation-related constraints, and difficulties establishing a regular routine for headset use. Immersive virtual reality with natural environment was generally viewed as a valuable complement to real-world nature experiences, particularly for individuals with limited access to outdoor environments (B1-2). Overall, the findings suggest that immersive virtual reality with natural environment experiences may offer a supportive resource for enhancing emotional wellbeing and managing stress in people with type 2 diabetes, while not replacing the benefits of actual nature exposure.