An accessible path to nature: piloting virtual nature interventions among adults with disabilities by examining heart...

Nature exposure is known to support psychological and physiological well-being, yet individuals living in institutional care often face significant barriers to accessing nature. This pilot study examined the feasibility as well as the physiological effects of tailored virtual nature-based interventions delivered via an immersive dome environment among adults with intellectual and/or physical disabilities. Employing a repeated-measures, within-subject design, this study analyzed heart rate and heart rate variability across multiple interventions to assess physiological responses to virtual nature exposure. Across participants, the interventions were associated with consistent decreases in heart rate variability, while no uniform response pattern was observed for heart rate. Case-level analyses suggested a two-fold response that might depend on the participants' baseline arousal and behavioral profiles. Individuals predominantly described as calm and bedbound exhibited increased cognitive engagement, as reflected by decreased heart rate variability and increased heart rate, whereas individuals described as restless or active exhibited decreases in both heart rate and heart rate variability, possibly indicating cognitive engagement paired with cardiovascular relaxation. This lack of uniform physiological response suggests that the impact of virtual nature exposure may depend on individual characteristics and contextual needs. Taken together, these findings offer preliminary evidence for the feasibility of virtual nature-based interventions in institutional care settings and point to their potential as an accessible and adaptable approach to supporting stress regulation and cognitive engagement.