Relaxation in Virtual Reality: An Exploratory Study on the Role of Guidance Modality and Prior Experience

Sebastian Stadler () and Emilie Daniel ()
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Sebastian Stadler: Regensburg University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics
Emilie Daniel: École Nationale Supérieure des Sciences Appliquées et de Technologie

A chapter in XR and Metaverse, 2026, pp 355-364 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for stress reduction by providing immersive and engaging environments. This exploratory study investigates the effectiveness of auditory versus visual guidance in VR-based relaxation and examines whether prior meditation or VR experience influences perceived stress reduction. Thirteen participants completed daily relaxation sessions over seven consecutive days in a nature-inspired VR environment, guided either by auditory instructions or by visual text cues. Perceived stress levels were measured using an adapted Perceived Stress Scale before and after each session. Results revealed a general trend toward reduced stress in both groups, with the visual guidance group showing a slightly greater reduction. No clear trends were observed regarding the influence of prior meditation or VR experience. Future research will focus on increasing the sample size and extending the data collection period to enhance statistical power and provide more robust insights into the comparative effectiveness of auditory and visual guidance in VR-based relaxation.

Keywords: Virtual reality; Relaxation; Stress reduction; Guidance modality; Prior experience; Immersive environments (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:prbchp:978-3-032-11983-4_26

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-11983-4_26

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